Pelican Place connected with solar energy

Solar panels were installed at Pelican Place, the apartment complex in Newport which provides twelve units of permanent supportive housing to families and individuals who were formerly homeless. The 25 kilowatt solar system, installed by Paul Solonika & Sons, will provide energy to run the building's two laundry rooms.

Community Services Consortium's Weatherization Program was one of Eight Oregon weatherization programs selected to receive funding for piloting the installation of solar photovoltaic systems to implement a broader set of sustainable energy efficient alternatives. The utility will purchase any overage.

CSC Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program

No interest, deferred-payment home repair loan funds are now available* from CSC's Community Housing Services in the following locations:

Benton County: Limited loan funds are available throughout Benton County, except within the city limits of Corvallis. (Residents of Corvallis may contact the City of Corvallis Housing Dept. for similar assistance, (541) 766-6944.)
Linn County: Limited loan funds are available for owner-occupied properties in Albany, Lyons and Mill City.
Lincoln County: Loan funds are now available in Newport for owner-occupied and some types of rental properties.

The loans are available for home repair needs such as roofing, heating and electrical systems, plumbing, foundations, structural work, and other conditions affecting health, safety and livability.

No interest is charged on these loans, and no monthly payments are required; loans for rehab of owner-occupied properties are not due and payable until the property is sold, transferred, vacated or refinanced; rental property owners must contribute 50% of the cost of the project, must agree to rent to low-income tenants for the life of the loan, and must pay off the loan in ten years.

For further information contact Jeni Wells-Whitney at CSC's community Housing Services office in Corvallis at (541) 758-2636 or email at jwwhitney@communityservices.us.
*Income guidelines apply for qualification

CSC sponsors Ten New 'Building Bridges' Members

The 'Building Bridges' Americorps*VISTA program welcomes ten new members to Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. This is the 6th team sponsored by Community Services Consortium and members are working to address issues of housing and homelessness in the community.

Tifani Erpelding, Program Coordinator for 'Building Bridges' stated, "This is a new approach for our team. In the past we worked on a variety of issues, such as hunger and education, and we made a small impact on many poverty related issues. With our new program approach, we anticipate the compounded efforts of each member working on the single issue of housing and homelessness will create a greater impact on our communities. We are very excited about the program."

Members are serving in non-profit organizations, schools, and government agencies across Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties. Projects range from developing volunteer programs to serve homeless children and adults, developing a regional plan to address homelessness, to the 10 Year Plans to End Homelessness in all three counties.

2011 Resource Jam of Linn County

The Resource Jam of Linn County was held on September 13, 2011 at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center. Sponsored by Community Services Consortium, (CSC) this was the second annual event that brought social service providers from all over the county together to hear about the programs each organization has to offer low income residents of Linn County.

Presentations were made by 11 agencies and organizations, plus four speakers representing different departments of CSC. Their aim was to let providers know what other services were being offered in the county in order to steer their clients to the right resources. Tables were set up for each organization to provide brochures, posters, business cards and other printed materials for attendees to pick up and share with co-workers.

There was plenty of time for questions and networking during the event. A total of 67 people were in attendance, and the event was very well received. Plans are to continue to make this an annual event, and to expand the concept to Benton County in the near future.

If your organization would like to participate in next year’s Resource Jam, contact Dina Eldridge @ CSC: 541-928-6335, x. 324 or deldridge@communityservices.us.

Dinner Down The Bay

Friday October 14, 2011
A five course dining event benefiting Friends of CSC Head Start of Lincoln County
Dine-Cruise-Ride: Begin at Inscapes Gallery for a meet and greet to kickoff your spectacular, fresh, local dining experience!
Featuring: Appetizers and wine by Local Ocean served at Inscapes Gallery.
Fresh Shrimp Salad served during a Marine Discovery cruise. Clam Chowder, or Soup du Jour served at Bridges Embarcadero Restaurant. Three entree choics to choose from served at Bay 839. Dessert, after dinner drinks and music served at Ch'Boogie. While you enjoy your delicious meal, raffle tickets will be available to win exciting prizes and gift certificates
Friday October 14
5:45 p.m. meet and greet at Inscapes Gallery
$48 in advance / $55 at the door
Tickets available at Inscapes Gallery, Bridges embarcadero Restaurant, or call (541) 270-5611; email friendsofheadstart2009@gmail.com

Comcast offers discounted internet service to families with low incomes

Comcast is launching a new program to offer discounted Internet service and computers to low-income families.

The Internet Essentials program will provide low-cost access to the Internet and affordable computers as well as digital literacy training to families with children who are eligible to receive free lunches under the National School Lunch Program.

Internet service provided through Internet costs $9.95 per month (plus tax) and is available for families that:
Are located where Comcast offers Internet service (currently in 39 states) Have at least one child receiving free school lunches through the National School Lunch Program Have not subscribed to Comcast Internet service within the last 90 days Do not have an overdue Comcast bill or unreturned equipment

Upon enrollment, new customers have the opportunity to buy a laptop computer for $149.99 (plus tax). It supports wired and Wi-Fi Internet connectivity and includes the Windows 7 Starter operating system and Internet browser software.

Comcast has launched websites in English and Spanish to promote the offering.

Money Matters Class Rescheduled to Albany CSC Office

On September 14th, 21st and 28th Community Housing Services, a program of Community Services Consortium, will be hosting a Money Matters Class from 1:30 to 4:00 pm, at the CSC Albany Office. The class was previously scheduled for the Corvallis CSC office.

Money Matters is perfect for anyone working on large goals like education, buying a home, or building better credit--and for those who are trying to move past living on an “emergency plan”. We’ll take a look at basic budgeting, spending leaks and how to be strategic about money use--as well as talk about preparing for emergencies so that they don’t throw you off track.

For further information or to enroll, call Beth Larsen at (541) 928-6335 ext. 311 or email at blarsen@communityservices.us).

Celebrating Service

CSC's RSVP program is celebrating its founding 40 years ago, and will honor its volunteers during Senior Corps Week. These honorees were recognized in the past for their community service.

National Senior Corps Week is September 19-23. For the past four decades, the three Senior Corps programs - Foster Grandparents, RSVP and Senior Companions - have engaged age 55-plus volunteers in service to meet critical community needs. Last year in America, nearly 500,000 Senior Corps volunteers provided 98 million hours of service estimated to be worth more than $2 billion.

The Foster Grandparent Program connects volunteers age 55 and over with children and young people with exceptional needs. Working with schools, libraries, Head Start, and Boys and Girls Clubs, volunteers help children reach life-changing goals.

RSVP offers "one stop shopping" for all volunteers 55 and over who want to find challenging, rewarding, and significant service opportunities in their local communities.
The Senior Companion Program brings together volunteers age 55 and over with adults in their community who have difficulty with the simple tasks of day-to-day living. They serve frail older adults, adults with disabilities, and offer respite for caregivers.

In 2010, 8,982 Oregon Senior Corps volunteers in 29 projects across the state contributed 1.7 million hours of service at an estimated value of over $61 million.

Locally, Community Services Consortium sponsors Linn-Benton RSVP. Signature programs include Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance, Senior Peer Counseling, AARP Tax-Aide and HandsOn Linn-Benton.

RSVP is celebrating its founding 40 years ago, and honoring its volunteers during Senior Corps Week with two separate Recognition Awards Luncheons in Lebanon on September 21, and Corvallis on September 22.

New On-The-Job program may help employers with new employee training costs

Community Services Consortium partnering with the Workforce Investment Board of Linn, Benton and Lincoln Counties are offering a new program that may help local businesses with new employee training costs.

This On-the-Job Training program puts dislocated (laid off) workers, Veterans and other job seekers back to work earning a wage while receiving training. Businesses participating in the On-the-Job Training (OJT) program can receive a cash reimbursement (not a tax credit) up to $5,000 to help offset the costs associated with training a new, permanent employee.

Highlights:
Receive a cash reimbursement for up to 50% of employee wages during training period
OJT representatives will offer support throughout the On-The-Job training process
The program will screen qualified candidates to your specifications at NO COST-you decide who to hire.
You will help reinvest in your business and community

To Apply or for more information contact Sharee Cooper at 541-758-2633 or scooper@communityservices.us

New coordinator to address housing and homelessness in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties

Lauren Berentes, CSC Building Bridges' Regional Planning Coordinator

The CSC ‘Building Bridges’ program welcomes Lauren Berentes as a new participant in the AmeriCorps*VISTA program. She will be working with community leaders to coordinate a new Regional Task Force to develop a
10-Year Plan to address housing and homelessness in Linn, Benton, and
Lincoln counties.

The Regional 10-Year Plan will collaborate efforts of 'Building Bridges’ AmeriCorps*VISTAs Michael Spinello (Linn County), Jessica Stallings (Benton County), and Elise Jordan (Lincoln County) alongside regional community members to complete the project. The completed working document will identify service gaps, determine appropriate strategies to address housing and homelessness, provide timelines for implementation, and establish methods for evaluating progress throughout the region.

Berentes was formerly Grants Manager and Volunteer Coordinator for Horizon House, a homeless center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

For more information contact Lauren Berentes at 541-928-6335 ext. 328 or lberentes@communityservices.us.

Medicare Workshops Scheduled in Lincoln, Linn and Benton Counties

Lincoln City:Lincoln County Medicare beneficiaries will have an opportunity to ask questions about Medicare at 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 23 at the Lincoln City Community Center at 2150 NE Oar Place. Lincoln City, Oregon.

Andrew Tartella, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) representative, will be available to answer questions about changes to Medicare enrollment periods and benefits. Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers are encouraged to attend.

Newport:The Newport Church of the Nazarene at 227 Northwest 12th Street, Newport, OR will host an informational meeting on Medicare at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25. (541) 265-6684

Richard Reynolds, a Newport resident and local volunteer with the Oregon Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance Program, a senior advocacy group for Medicare, will explain the different parts of Medicare. The purpose of the workshop is to provide seniors with a better understanding of Medicare and allow them to make an informed decision as to their own needs.

Linn & Benton Counties
Albany: Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance – SHIBA – is holding a “New to Medicare” class on Thursday, August 27 from 3 pm to 5 pm at the Albany CSC offices at 250 Broadalbin SW in Albany. The class will be offered on the second floor in the Large Conference Room.

The class is open to anyone who will be eligible for Medicare within a few months or is new to Medicare. We will cover the basics of Medicare A, B, C and D. Beneficiaries will better understand their Medicare benefits and learn how to choose a supplemental insurance plan that best meets their individual needs.

Corvallis: The same class will be offered in Benton County on Wednesday, September 14, from 3 - 4:50 pm at LBCC Benton Center Room 204, 757 Northwest Polk Avenue, Corvallis.
Reservations are required in Linn and Benton county workshops. To reserve a seat please call the CSC RSVP office at 541-812-0849
SHIBA is sponsored in Linn and Benton counties by Linn-Benton RSVP, a program of Community Services Consortium.

CSC Lincoln County Head Start Enrolling Now

Community Services Consortium (CSC) Head Start is a no-cost preschool serving Lincoln County.
We are now enrolling for the 2011-2012 program year at Head Start sites in Lincoln City, Toledo, and Newport. Children must be 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2011.

Applications with enrollment information are
available at each site or by calling 541-996-3028.

• Lincoln City, 2130 SE Lee Street Lincoln City
• Newport, 253 NE 1st Street Newport
• Toledo, 845 NW A Street, Toledo