Help from Community Action Committee / Partnership of Chambers, Tallapoosa, and Coosa County
Community Action Committee of Chambers-Tallapoosa-Coosa, which operates as Community Action Partnership, supports vulnerable families in Chambers, Tallapoosa, and Coosa Counties. The staff at Community Action Committee are focused on helping individuals get back on their feet. So to meet this goal, they offer emergency financial assistance for a large variety of needs with other support offered too. Find details below on programs from the Community Action Committee as well as the contact information.
Food and emergency financial help to pay bills
Households in the three-county region apply through Community Action Partnership for help with electric, gas or other heating bills, including crisis assistance from LIHEAP when there is a shut-off notice. The agency also manages Alabama Power’s financial relief programs, including the Alabama Business Charitable Trust Fund dollars for the area, giving Dadeville residents access to an additional pool of utility assistance that is not available through every local provider in the state.
- Families whose energy usage is disproportionately high when compared to their income are also a priority for any government aid. In general, benefits are in the form of a one-time payment made directly to the client’s gas or electric provider, and are intended to serve as an initial step toward energy self-sufficiency and reduced vulnerability.
Emergency Services help income qualified families in crisis get the help them need for stability. It can offer assistance for their immediate, pressing needs. This may include a one-time disbursement for an overdue utility payment; shelter; emergency assistance with rent or mortgage payments to avoid eviction or foreclosure and more. Another focus is on stopping hunger, and Community Action Committee staff can help families obtaining sufficient and nutritious food.
- Community Action in Dadeville AL (the main office) also operates broader emergency services that many community action agencies in other regions do not bundle under one office. This combination of crisis grants, food support and long-term weatherization from a single small-town office is a key feature that makes the Dadeville site stand out.
Additional services include the following. There are free food supplements and general self-sufficiency support funded through the Community Services Block Grant. These programs vary from year to year depending on funding and may include short-term aid for households facing unexpected hardship. In some years there is also additional rent payment help arranged in Alabama for struggling tenants.
- Since the Dadeville office acts as the administrative hub for three counties, households in smaller towns without local service centers may still access help by phone or appointment. The agency’s size, multi-county role and combination of energy assistance, weatherization, Head Start and emergency services make it one of the more comprehensive Community Action locations in eastern Alabama.
Senior Nutrition provides free meals for struggling elderly residents. There is food and meals either in a congregate (group) setting or delivered directly to the homes of those who cannot leave due to disability or illness. Drivers can offer this in Tallapoosa or Chambers county, as well as other towns.
- The goal of the senior food focused assistance is to eliminate the negative effects of poor nutrition on the health of senior citizens. It does this by providing them with nutritious, tasty meals that also provide one-third of the recommended USDA daily nutrition allowance for older adults. Transportation is sometimes arranged to residents from the immediate area who lack other options. Besides the nutritional advantages, the congregate service provide seniors with an opportunity to get out of the house, have a good healthy meal, and socialize with others.
CAC’s Community Resource Specialists address the underlying cause of the crisis. Sessions are held across Tallapoosa, Chambers and Coosa County, and the staff provide one-on-one Budget Counseling to eliminate financial stressors. The support will help people become more self-sufficient, and gain the skills and tools necessary to manage their finances or gain a job - including to job training services in Alabama. They can learn how to control cash flow and understand credit scores. A full review of their financial situation needs to occur as well. Based on a budget review, areas for change are identified.
Community Action Committee long term support services
Early childhood programs, including Head Start, are another unique strength of the Dadeville based agency. The location partners with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help kids from families living in/or near poverty. The Community Action Committee of Chambers–Tallapoosa–Coosa is the administrative center for a network of classrooms in several communities.
- Families in Chambers and Tallapoosa Counties enroll in Head Start and Early Head Start through this Dadeville-led program, which blends preschool education, meals and health services for low income children. The agency coordinates with child care sites on health and psychosocial support, something not offered by every rural community action agency.
Weatherization provides free energy-efficient enhancements to the homes of working poor individuals and families. The purpose is for reducing their energy expenditures and improving the health and safety of their homes. Similar to the funding from LIHEAP above, priority is given to the elderly, people with disabilities, single moms or families with children, and those living in poverty.
- Community Action Committee weatherization measures typically include insulating the attic, walls, and floors, eliminating outside air infiltration into the home; sealing duct work; tuning and repairing HVAC systems; and replacing incandescent light bulbs with CFL lighting. Other work can be done as well.
Contact information
There are three main offices of Community Action Committee. They are as follows.
- Coosa County location is at 23060 Vet Memorial Pkwy, Lafayette, AL. Call 334-864-9059
- Residents of Tallapoosa County can stop by the Central Office, 170 S. Broadnax St., Dadeville, AL 36853, or dial 256-825-4287.
- Chambers County location is at Old Russell Building, 306 2nd Ave. NW, LaFayette, Alabama 36862, call 334-864-8435.
Related Content From Needhelppayingbills.com
|
Need help navigating programs?