Second Chance Program Workshops Scheduled for January

Second Chance Renter Rehabilitation classes will be held throughout January at CSC’s Corvallis office (545 SW 2nd Street - upstairs) from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on the following days:

Tuesday, January 8: How to be a Good Tenant
Thursday, January 10: Landlord/Tenant Responsibilities
Tuesday, January 15: Goal Setting
Thursday, January 17: Conflict Resolution
Tuesday, January 22: Energy Education
Thursday, January 24: Basic Budgeting

Pre-registration is required. Due to limited space, each class is limited to 16 people. The deadline for registering is Friday, December 28th.

Second Chance helps people without stable housing remove the barriers they face in finding stable housing and become the ideal tenants that landlords seek. Second Chance helps resolve homelessness and helps individuals become self-sufficient. 94% of Second Chance participants secure permanent housing within 60 days of graduating the program. The program combines a powerful combination of education, case management, personal responsibility training, financial literacy education, money management, and more.

To register or ask a question, please contact Cindy Pratt-DeMarzo, Resource Coordinator, at cpratt@communityservices.us or 541-758-2632.

CSC Sponsors National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day

Homeless individuals, social service providers, faith-based organizations, and the public are invited to gather at the Albany City Hall Plaza, 333 Broadalbin Street SW, at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 21, 2012, for Albany’s fourth observance of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day.

The event is an opportunity to remember the people who have died on Albany streets, in abandoned properties or open places, and from illnesses or conditions directly related to homelessness.  Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day is a national observance.

The memorial event will include a proclamation by Albany Mayor Sharon Konopa, the reading of the names and lighting candles for those who have died in Albany and other Linn County communities in 2012, words of remembrance, and a military salute by the American Legion Post 10 Honor Guard. Refreshments will follow.

The observance is sponsored by the City of Albany, the Homeless Enrichment and Rehabilitation Team (HEART) board of directors, American Legion Post 10, Community Services Consortium, and Samaritan Health Services.

Donations of socks, thermal underwear, stocking caps, gloves, hooded sweatshirts, and gently used coats will be collected for Albany Helping Hands and Signs of Victory shelter guests.

The national observance has been held annually since 1990 on or near the first day of winter (and the longest night of the year). In 2011, 157 cities in 40 states and the District of Columbia held memorial events.

For more coverage of this event, see the article here.

Third Annual Civil War Brew-Off a Smashing Success!

On November 2, the Oregon State Coalition of Graduate Employees (CGE) partnered with the University of Oregon Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation (GTFF) to host the third annual Civil War Brew-Off. Homebrewers from both organizations went head-to-head for bragging rights and the coveted Brew-Off Cup.

Linn Benton Food Share and our community was the big winner of the evening. The Brew-Off raised $3,383.97 and more than 500 pounds of food for LBFS, which will make a huge impact this season!

Many thanks to CGE and GTFF for their efforts and generosity, as well as everyone that participated in the event!

If you would like to volunteer or make a donation to Linn Benton Food Share, please contact Susan  James, Gleaning and Volunteer Programs Coordinator at sjames@communityservices.us or 541-758-2645.

SNAP Incentive Program Offers More Food for the Money

The "That's My Farmer" program will be providing a bounty of fresh, local food to SNAP recipients this winter.

Every time a customer spends at least $6 at a participating farmers’ market using his/her Oregon Trail card, they receive an extra $6 in farmers’ market tokens. For customers who shop at the market each week, that adds up to $24 a month to spend on fresh foods that support our local economy.

The Lincoln County Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market will continue to run through the winter on Saturdays from 10am-2pm through March.

For more information, visit the Ten Rivers Food Web website here.

Albany Social Security Office Early Closures

Effective November 19, 2012, the Albany Social Security office will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – a reduction of 30 minutes each weekday.  In addition, beginning January 2, 2013, the office will close to the public at noon every Wednesday.

While agency employees will continue to work their regular hours, this shorter public window will allow them to complete face-to-face interviews and process claims work without incurring the cost of overtime.  The significantly reduced funding provided by Congress under the continuing resolution for the first six months of the fiscal year makes it impossible for the agency to provide the overtime needed to handle service to the public as it has done in the past.  

In addition, on November 23, the day after Thanksgiving, all Social Security field offices will be closed to the public.  As we did last year, employees working that day will focus on reducing backlogged workloads.
Most Social Security services do not require a visit to a local office. 

Many services, including applying for retirement, disability or Medicare benefits, signing up for direct deposit, replacing a Medicare card, obtaining a proof of income letter or informing us of a change of address or telephone number are conveniently available at www.socialsecurity.gov or by dialing our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213.  People who are deaf or hard of hearing may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.  Many of our online services also are available in Spanish at www.segurosocial.gov.

SHIBA Volunteer Receives 2012 Oregon Governor's Volunteer Award

Karen Burrell, one of our extraordinary SHIBA volunteers, has been awarded an Oregon Governor's Volunteer Award for Outstanding Senior Volunteer. Karen is always learning and teaching public workshops that attracts hundreds of people each year, in addition to her individual Medicare counseling. She also volunteers with PEO and her church.

The 2012 Oregon Governor's Volunteer Awards on Friday, November 9 will honor 14 individuals and 12 organizations from throughout the state for their commitment to serving Oregon and its people.

“Oregon is made richer by the contributions of our talented and compassionate citizens,” said Gov. John Kitzhaber. “These award winners represent the best of the state—people who give their time, energy, and resources to lifting up others and making Oregon a better place to live.”

The annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards honor ordinary Oregonians who do extraordinary things and also inspire and motivate future volunteerism. Nominations were received from all over the state and were carefully evaluated by appointed review committees. Winners will receive cash grants from Wells Fargo to give to their favorite nonprofit group.

You can read more about Karen's awesome achievement here.

Congratulations Karen, and thank you for everything that you do!

Siletz Tribe Supports CSC Youth Crews

A generous grant of more than $4,500 from the Siletz Tribal Contribution Fund has enabled 36 Lincoln County youth to participate in vital natural resources restoration projects. The Lincoln County Natural Resource Crew program, run by Community Services Consortium, used the funds to buy supplies for projects that also provided 9,952 combined hours of job training and educational support to participants.

Program participants executed a number of vital environmental projects, including planting in damaged riparian zones throughout Lincoln County, seed gathering, supporting Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife on projects aiding threatened species, creating community garden spaces and trail building and maintenance.
 
Many thanks to the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians for providing such a huge benefit to both the youth and environment of Lincoln County!  

You can read more in this article by the Newport News Times.

Head Start of Lincoln County Accepting Applications

Head Start of Lincoln County is accepting waitlist applications for programs in the Toledo, Newport and Lincoln City locations. Many children are enrolled throughout the school year. For more information, please call the number for your city below:

Toledo: 541-336-5113
Newport: 541-574-7690
Lincoln City 541-996-3028

Lincoln Community Land Trust Builds Another Home

Lincoln Community Land Trust (LCLT) has built its second home! Everyone is invited to view the fully remodeled 1940's charmer at an open house and ribbon cutting on Thursday, November 1st.
 
Refreshments will be served and exciting gifts available at the raffle. The presentation and light refreshments begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony and cake at 5:30 p.m., and the raffle at 6:00 p.m. A walkthrough of the home will follow the raffle.
 
Please mark your calendars and invite others to come be part of this celebration for affordable homeownership in Lincoln County! Please contact Ben Baggett at BBaggett@communityservices.us to RSVP.

LCLT makes homes available to hard working individuals and families of Lincoln County who deserve the option of homeownership. A community land trust home benefits the
community by making one more affordable home available from one generation to another to enjoy.

It lasts because the homeowner, in return for the below market home price and affordable mortgage payments, agrees that when ready to sell their home they give the next home buyer the same opportunity to buy the home at a rate that is affordable.

Community land trust homes across the nation also make homeownership a reality for those ready, but that have insufficient income or difficulty finding a mortgage to purchase a traditional market rate home.

Community land trust homes can act as a bridge between rent and traditional home ownership. On average in the United States, 70% of community land trust home owners eventually go on to purchase traditional market rate homes.

Basic Budgeting Workshop: Taking Control of your Money

Emergency Services of Community Services Consortium presents the Basic Budgeting Workshop.

This workshop is a two hour class that focuses on learning how to take control of our money by setting up a monthly budget and spending plan. The workshop is offered to any CSC client receiving housing or energy assistance.

Topics covered in this workshops include:

• Identifying and prioritizing expenses
• Tips for trimming your budget
• Creating a monthly budget
• Setting financial goals
• Developing a spending plan that is right for YOU And More!

The Basic Budgeting Workshop is held monthly. If you are unable to attend a workshop in your area, please contact Cindy Pratt-DeMarzo at (541)758-2632 or via email:  cpratt@communityservices.us for future workshop dates.

Basic Budgeting Workshop Schedule:

• Monday, October 22, 2012, 10:00AM-12:00 PM
• Monday, November 5, 2012,  2:00-4:00 PM
• Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 1:00-3:00 PM

Location:  CSC Corvallis Office, 545 SW 2nd Street, Suite A, Corvallis, OR 97333

The Basic Budgeting Workshop is FREE but you must register!

Instructor:  Cindy Pratt-DeMarzo, (541) 758-2632

For Attending:  Receive a FREE personal Planner and Money Organizer!  

Please Note: Income eligibility applies to attend workshop.

Local Child Raises Money for Linn Benton Food Share

On Thursday, October 11, six-year-old Keira Jackson came by the Linn Benton Food Share office with a donation. She explained that her family’s apple tree produced a bumper crop of apples this year – way more than they could use. Keira and her mother, Dixie, decided to set up a fruit stand so Keira could sell the apples.

They decided the money would go to charity – and selected Linn Benton Food Share to receive the proceeds. Keira was excited to present Food Share with a check for $80 from her fruit stand efforts. Way to go, Keira!

LIHEAP Program Serves 7,257 Households in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties

During the 2011-2012 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season, Community Services Consortium served 7,257 households in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties.

Some interesting statistics on those households served during the 2011-2012 LIHEAP season include:

1. Total energy payments: $2,224,279.50


2. Total served: 7,527 households (15% decrease over 2010-2011) which included 17,734 individuals (16% decrease over 2010-2011)


3. Of the 7,527 households served:
• 2,158 households had at least one senior member
• 2,698 households had at least one permanently disabled person
• 1,614 households had at least one child under the age of 6 years old
• 934 households had at least one child under the age of 3 years old
• 1,212 households headed by a single female parent
• 136 households headed by a single male parent


4. Of the 7,257 households served, 56% (4,058) of households earned less than 100% of poverty (at 100% of poverty, a household of 2 would have earned less than $1,226 per month gross income, and a household of 4 would have earned less than $1,863 per month gross income).


5. 48% of the households served had a shut off or a past due notice.


6. Unduplicated households served by county:
• Linn County: 4,074 households/10,567 individuals
• Benton County: 1,538 households/3,713 individuals
• Lincoln County: 1,645 households/3,454 individuals

Programs like LIHEAP are critical for keeping low-income households safe, healthy, and warm. Did you know that some of the consequences of unaffordable heating costs include:

• An increase in hunger and malnutrition when people are forced to choose between heating and eating.
• Personal health suffers as people are not able to fill prescriptions, must skip or reduce their medications, or go without needed medical or dental care.
• The elderly, people with disabilities or medical conditions, and small children are put at risk of hypothermia.
• Health and safety is endangered by people using alternate heat or light sources such as kerosene heaters, candles, lanterns, fireplaces or charcoal briquettes.
• Evictions increase and more people become homeless. Many never regain their housing and children leave school.
• Loss of utility service contributes to children going into foster care, as living without utility service is considered neglect.
• People in subsidized housing risk losing their housing voucher if their power is shut off.

If you or your organization would like to help, tax-deductible donations to assist low-income families may be made payable to:

Emergency Services

Energy Assistance Program 2012-2013

Community Services Consortium

250 Broadalbin St. SW, Suite 2A

Albany, OR 97321

541-928-6335, ext. 314