Community Action Services and Food Bank programs.
Resources from the non-profit Community Action Services and Food Bank assist low income and working poor families. They offer support programs such as Circles Initiative as well as food, job placement, and referrals to emergency financial assistance for rent or other needs such as transportation.
The community action agency is focused on helping families escape poverty by combining short term support with long term counseling and advice. Services are available across Summit, Utah County and Wasatch in the state of Utah.
The Circles Initiative is available as a two-part program that provides a path out of destitution. In the first part of this process, clients of the community action agency attend weekly classes that feature instruction on analytically thinking, self-reliance and problem-solving skills.
Once individuals complete the first portion of the Circles Initiative, they enter the second part, in which people will be paired with individuals from different economic classes for 18 months. This will help them gain self-sufficiency and maybe even to create friendships. These relationships help individuals address and solve the issues that are preventing them from overcoming poverty.
Individuals from the community, such as Utah County, can access the resources needed to become self-sufficient through the family development program. This service offers short-term financial assistance and long-term support from Community Action Services and Food Bank.
The family development program may provide support such as free bus tokens and transportation assistance, vouchers to pay for hotels, clothing and furniture and more. There may be grants to help with rent payments, security deposits and utility bills. In some cases, the non-profit can offer loans as well.
In addition, the program helps families improve their financial situation by establishing goals and this includes case management, self-empowerment and self-esteem training, as well as ongoing advocacy. In order to qualify for the family development program, all applicants are required to meet with a caseworker to determine eligibility, assess needs and form a plan of action.
Future assistance from Community Action Services and Food Bank is available through this program, but any type of aid is contingent upon clients making progress toward their goals. The agency notes that all people may not be eligible for all forms of support, but there are some restrictions.
The organization operates a free food bank that distributes assistance throughout Wasatch, Summit, and Utah. Contributions from the community allow the pantry to supply items to dozens of churches, charities, and other partner agencies.
The center distributes surplus food and government commodities to organizations such as pantries and soup kitchens, and these agencies then distribute food to persons in need. Together they help the low income, including seniors and children in the region. Community Action Services and Food Bank manages several pantries in addition to the food bank.
Beginning in April of each year, the agency rents small garden plots to individuals and families as part of its community garden service. This service allows clients with limited yard space to grow their own fresh fruits, vegetables, and produce.
As part of this service, Community Action Services and Food Bank provides water and tools, and renters of the land are responsible for taking care of the plot. They need to water it, address any weeding and maintaining their garden plots. All community members can make use of the community garden, which is located behind the Boulders Apartments in Provo, Utah.
The homebuyer and mortgage counseling program helps clients address homeownership issues. This aims to empower families to secure long-term homeownership through education and support in addressing any barriers or hardships that come up. Resource identification, free mediation services, ethical-practices advocacy and dispute resolution are among the services available through the program.
All services regarding homeownership, except for reverse mortgage counseling, are available to the public at no cost. Community Action Services and Food Bank has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a housing counseling agency.
Mortgage default counseling helps people who are behind on their home loan payments avoid foreclosure. This program includes individual counseling to assess hardships and establish a course of action to rectify the situation. All solutions will be explored.
In addition, the debt as well as mortgage counseling promotes alternatives to foreclosure that fall within HUD guidelines and offers assistance with workout options and lender negotiations. Staff will work directly with the clients lender or bank, whether they are based in Utah or another state. Financial assistance may also be available to help resolve a housing crisis.
The Community Action Services and Food Bank agency has numerous offices throughout its service territory.
One office is located at 815 South Freedom Boulevard, Provo, Utah 84601 and can be reached by phone at (801) 373-8200.
Other centers are 34 West 200 South, Suite 4, Heber, Utah 84032. This office’s phone number is (435) 654-2182.
17 South Main Street, Coalville, UT 84017, dial (435) 336-4277.
30 South Main Street, Kamas, Utah 84036. For information, dial (435) 783-4303.
140 North Main Street, Spanish Fork, UT 84660. For information, dial (801) 830-3951.
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