Missouri non-profit community action agency assistance programs.
Families going through a difficult period can receive assistance from a community action agency in Missouri. Resources are provided to low income families, seniors, children, and those who need help. Recipients tend to be the unemployed, working poor, and people faced with a crisis.
Case managers from a local non-profit can direct individuals to educational opportunities, job training, and government grants for paying bills or housing. Other aid disbursed can include food, child care, or credit and housing counseling. Call a community agency listed below that is near you for specifics.
Child development, including Head start and WIC
Children from low income families under the age of 5 can benefit from Head Start. It is a federal government program and provides a variety of activities. Teachers and staff can assist both the child and their parents. They can administer dental and medical care, provide healthy snacks and meals, and it offers supervision. Regardless of your background, Head Start helps all children succeed. The program is also open to the special needs of children with disabilities. Many similar assistance programs are offered to toddlers and infants with the Early Head Start Program.
These child development programs are offered to families in Missouri in an effort to help people break the cycle of poverty. It involves the entire family, including the parent, as they are after all the child’s primary educator. Services offered include:
- Education is a priority in Missouri. The program can meet the social/emotional, intellectual, language and physical needs of children.
- Nutrition, such as a free healthy breakfast, lunch and snack.
- Health care is arranged, including dental and medical health screening and follow-up.
- Social services are offered to parents. They can benefit from resources offered by community action agencies, including job training and case management.
Financial counseling coordinated by community agencies
Money management is offered by community action agency financial education coordinators. The specialists work with families and individuals to assist with a number of credit and money management issues. Services include budgeting and credit repair classes. In addition, both first time homebuyers and/or people facing a foreclosure can benefit from workshops and sessions.
- Budgeting services will help people better understand money and how their views can impact spending habits. Get tips on saving, how to set financial goals, and more. Counselors will also discuss subprime mortgages, predatory lending, poor credit scores and how these items affect your financial health.
- Sessions on credit are held. Learn the importance of it, the components of your credit report, how your score is determined, and, importantly, how to improve your ratings. Counselors will help participants avoid consumer scams, learn how to protect yourself from identity theft, and get advice on dealing with debt collectors.
- Homeownership classes are available in Missouri. It covers foreclosure prevention as well as assistance for first time homebuyers. Housing and foreclosure counseling is a focus and many agencies use HUD certified specialists. Get help modifying your loan, or working out a solution with your lender.
- Community Action Agencies in Missouri help individuals repair their credit. This is often a time intensive, multi-step process that involves paying down debts, managing accounts, and more. Learn how repairing credit scores can benefit families of all incomes.
Individual Development Accounts is a matched savings account offered by agencies in Missouri. It can help participants achieve their long-term financial and saving goals, buy a home or assist with starting a business. The program helps low-income families save money, and matching grants may be provided as well. Not only will you get help saving money, but participants of IDA receive additional support through case management and financial management.
Missouri employment services
Job Training and Employment is available. One of the main resources is the WIA/Workforce Investment Act. The goal is to help clients become self-sufficient. Get help with searching for a job, career exploration assessment, free supplies for job searching and retention, and more. Many of the participants include the following.
- Youth programs are for people are 14 through 21. If you are part of a household that receives public assistance, such as food stamps, Supplemental Security Income, or Temporary Assistance (TA), then you may qualify.
- Unemployed and dislocated workers can benefit from WIA. Job assistance is for people who have lost their job due to a permanent layoff, fired, plant closure or displaced homemaker.
- Transportation is often a barrier to work in Missouri. A community action agency can provide support with this need, including free charity cars.
- Individuals on public assistance – No matter your age, if you receive food stamps or Temporary Assistance, then Missouri will provide you employment services.
- Several other employment programs are coordinated by community action agencies, non-profits, and government agencies. More information on job training in Missouri.
Missouri Work Assistance is another employment program for people receiving Temporary Assistance and who have a referral from the Family Support Division (FSD). Case managers work with individuals to help them become job ready and self-sufficient.
As part of these programs, clients will receive a complete assessment and orientation to help them explore career choices and their aptitudes. Staff from your agency and local Career Centers will provide case management services to help people in overcoming barriers that may prevent them from obtaining or keeping employment.
If you are attending job training or currently working, the state of Missouri may even offer a travel allowance payment or reimbursement. The government grants can be used to pay for work related expenses, such as uniforms, gasoline, or clothing.
Hero at Home can help spouses of Missouri Guard and Reserve Troops who have been activated, and it can provide short term grants and other aid.
The Job Readiness Program is a workshop that will help clients and the unemployed prepare for job searching. Classes and workshops held at non-profits offer up-to-date information to unemployed or under-employed low-income individuals in Missouri. The goal is to help them prepare them for today’s challenging job market.
Classes cover some or all of the following. First is an assessment, which is also called taking Inventory. Get help with identifying such things as employment barriers, work and financial interests, transferable skills, and solutions, as well as learn about your career goals. Then work with a case manager on job search techniques and resume and cover letter writing. Also community action agencies will coordinate sessions for improving interview techniques and job etiquette. Career Counselors will assist you with your job search and employment services.
Grants for emergency needs and bills
Apply for utility and heating assistance at your local community action agency. They process applications for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and the enrollment period starts in October.
There are two parts of the LIHEAP program in Missouri. There is the Energy Crisis Intervention as well as more ongoing, regular Energy Assistance (EA).
The ECIP program mostly helps during the winter with paying heating and gas bills. However during any stretches of extreme hot weather during the summer the program may be available. Applicants need to have a disconnection notice. Or during the summer they need to have a life threatening conditioning if they were to lose power. Any amount paid out will depend on funding and the applicant’s income. Low income households may get financial assistance as many times as needed, provided they meet conditions and that grants are available.
The more regular Energy Assistance is a onetime grant that is available during the winter from November to March. Once an application has been submitted to your local agency and determined to be eligible, that application is good for the entire program year. The amount of the grant issued by Missouri as part of LIHEAP is based on income level, household size, age and any disability.
The Housing Voucher Program, also called Section 8 Rental Assistance, is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. However families can apply for it or receive applications at your local public housing authority or community action agency. If qualified, a housing subsidy is paid to your landlord or apartment manager on behalf of the participating family.
It can help very low-income families, the disabled, and the elderly afford decent affordable housing in the private market, and vouchers may help them with their rental costs. The client can choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program, including private homes or apartments. However rental units need to meet qualifications set by the government, including minimum standards of health and safety. Many standards are also set by the Missouri Public Housing Agency.
Financial needs may be offered to meet the immediate needs of working poor, low-income individuals or families. Some non-profits may offer a food pantry, Back-to-School Fairs, and holiday assistance. Many resources from the community action agencies focus on preventing evictions as well as utility disconnections in Missouri.
Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) is a grant program that is available in Missouri, pending funding. Any food items are distributed primarily through a network of pantries, charities, and local churches and organizations. Government EFSP funding is also utilized to assist in emergency situations with rent. People faced with an eviction may qualify for a grant for their housing or energy costs. When funding is no longer available, referrals are given to loan programs or other eviction prevention services.
Most community action agencies in Missouri have been operating weatherization assistance programs for many years. They are federally funded and can help qualified low-income elderly and handicapped households save money on their bills. The program can pay for Energy Audits, Insulation, Geo-Thermal Heating, CFL Bulbs, and Residential Retrofits.
It has been very effective in increasing the energy efficiency of housing, and can help people reduce utility bills. The program will also ensure individuals are comfortable and safe in their housing. It was designed to reduce the impact of high home heating bill and energy costs for low-income Missouri families by implementing energy-efficient measures. When funds allow, it can even pay for the replacement of your heating system.
Water bill assistance may be offered by the H2O Help Program. It can provide direct financial assistance and maybe discounts as well. This is a program offered with cooperation from Missouri American Water and it offers provide supplemental funding to low income families. Community action agencies can also provide additional information on resources that can offer assistance paying water bills.
Self-sufficiency and family services
Family Literacy is an educational program that offers effective, early childhood experiences and instruction. The goal is to help children and their parents free themselves from poverty and low educational achievement. It can provide for GED pre-testing, parent education in child development, adult literacy services, and volunteer tutoring services.
Youth Employment and Mentoring is offered in Missouri, and it will provide career counseling. You can observe professionals in high demand career fields. Other services offered include education. Prepare for your GED or learn how to get tuition assistance at area community colleges, vocational schools and other educational institutions.
Students can find out about job openings and get help in resume preparation and development. Computer access is available at many centers for job search or training. Case workers can help people find internships and summer employment opportunities that may be offered in most Missouri towns and cities.
In-Home Health Services and Women's Health Services is for disabled persons and senior citizens in Missouri. The objective is to help people remain independent in their homes. Each month the various In-Home Services programs provide care and attention to thousands of individuals, and this program helps them to remain in their homes.
Family, Intake, Assessment and Referral programs are offered by many Missouri agencies. They are designed to assist clients in becoming self-sufficient through employment and/or educational goals.
You will work with a case manager, and some of the case management and self-sufficiency offered will include nutrition, household management, budgeting, parenting, personal growth and development, literacy guidance, and referrals to other non-profit community resources. Also learn about federal government and state of Missouri public assistance programs.
The client needs to continue to focus on employment and educational goals during this period of time. If you are working towards self-sufficiency, then crisis intervention assistance may be offered as part of Intake. Grants can help with energy bills, food, housing, or family counseling assistance.
Family Support is offered for people faced with poverty. This is a form of case management that can help families as they strive toward a long-range goal.
If you are going through this case management, sometimes families need short term help for basic needs, such as money for heating bills or food. Family Advocates may be able to direct families to resources to help them meet these needs.
Life Skills Learning Opportunities can help residents expand their knowledge, skills and expertise so they can make it through challenging times. Classes and workshops are offered in a variety of topics including Employment/Job seeking, Home ownership, Passive Income, Budgeting, and also assessing Parenting/Family strengths. Classes and workshops can help people achieve their potential through education and training. Find how low income families can start a passive income.
Women, Infants And Children Supplement Program (WIC) is available in Missouri. This is a government funded health and nutrition program for young children, newborns, and children. It can prevent problems in growth and development. In addition, free nutritious food supplements and formula is provided to pregnant women, children up to age 5, infants, and nursing mothers.
Locations of Missouri agencies
Community Action for the counties of Osage, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Howard, Moniteau, and Cooper. Examples of resources available include education and Head Start. While the exact resources will change, some examples of what the community action agency for these counties may help with includes housing needs by coordinating section 8 vouchers, eviction prevention, and forgivable loans for bills or rent. Or they may help people to register for free foreclosure counseling. Read more on Central Missouri Community Action.
Community Action Agency of St. Louis County, Inc.
Address is 2709 Woodson Road
Overland, MO 63114-4817
(314) 863-0015
This is a leading non-profit community action agency for metropolitan St. Louis too. Resources include LIHEAP heating bill assistance, Head Start, and weatherization services. Another focus is on homeless prevention, and this can include emergency rent programs. The currently homeless can look into nearby low income housing apartments or programs to help pay for moving costs or security deposits, including zero interest rate loans. More on community action agency St. Louis programs.
Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph
817 Monterey Street
St. Joseph, MO 64503-3068
Call (816) 233-8281 for intake
Counties served include Andrew, Buchanan, Clinton, and DeKalb. Continue with Community Action Partnership of Greater St. Joseph.
Community Services Inc.
1212 B South Main
Maryville, MO 64468
Main telephone: (660) 582-3113
Low income families in Atchison, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway, and Worth can call this non-profit. Services offered include job training, LIHEAP, and other resources such as credit counseling.
Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAEOC)
Office address - 99 Skyview Road
Portageville, Missouri 63873-1616
(573) 379-3851
Supports regions of Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Scott, and Stoddard County. Numerous assistance programs and case management services are available in Missouri from this non-profit community action agency. Read Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation.
East Missouri Action Agency, Inc.
Location is 403 Parkway Drive
Park Hills, MO 63601-0358
Call (573) 431-5191
Counties - Bollinger, Iron, Madison, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Washington, Cape Girardeau, and Perry. Free food is from the federal EFSP program, there may be grants to pay back rent to prevent an eviction, home repair loans, and free medical care for women. Many other services are available. More on Community Action of Eastern Missouri.
Economic Security Corporation of the Southwest Area
Main address is 302 Joplin Street
Joplin, MO 64801-0207
Call (417) 781-0352 for information.
Barton, Jasper, McDonald, and Newton County. The community action agency process applications for HUD section 8 vouchers and many other public benefits. Referrals, job placement, and outreach is also provided. More on Economic Security Corporation of the Southwest Area.
Green Hills Community Action Agency
1506 Oklahoma Avenue
Trenton, MO 64683
(660) 359-3907
Several regions and counties are supported by the non-profit, including Caldwell, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Putnam, and Sullivan. If you need help or referrals with basic needs, or assistance in finding a job, call this location.
Jefferson-Franklin Community Action Corporation
2 Merchant Drive
Hillsboro, MO 63050-0920
Phone (636) 789-2686, or read more Jefferson Franklin area Community Action Agency assistance programs.
Missouri Ozarks Community Action, Inc.
Main address is 306 S. Pine Street, P.O. Box 69
Richland, Missouri 65556-0069
(573) 765-3263
Counties include Camden, Pulaski, Crawford, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Phelps, and Gasconade.
Missouri Valley Community Action Agency
1415 S. Odell
Marshall, MO 65340-3144
Call (660) 886-7476
Counties include Carroll, Chariton, Johnson, Pettis, Ray, Saline, and Lafayette. Referrals, job training, and life skills workshops are offered as well. Low income families can receive free school supplies, rental assistance in the form of loans or subsidized payments, and emergency heating bill help. More on community action programs in Missouri Valley.
North East Community Action Corporation (NECAC)
Mailing address is P.O. Box 470
Bowling Green, MO 63334-0470
Telephone: (573) 324-2231
Several counties offered are Lewis, Marion, Lincoln, Macon, Monroe, Montgomery, Pike, Ralls, Shelby, St. Charles, Warren, and Randolph.
Northeast Missouri Community Action Agency
Location is 215 N. Elson
Kirksville, MO 63501-0966
Telephone number is (660) 665-9855
Counties include Adair, Clark, Knox, Schuyler, and Scotland.
The community action agency has a free gardening program, operates Head Start, and assists by issuing grants for housing needs. More on Northeast Missouri Community Action Agency.
Ozark Action, Inc.
Main address - 710 East Main Street
West Plains, Missouri 65775
Telephone number is (417) 256-6147
Residents of Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Texas, and Wright can call this non-profit community action agency.
Ozarks Area Community Action Corporation
Main address is 215 South Barnes Ave.
Springfield, Missouri 65802-2204
Telephone number is (417) 864-3492
This is an application site for government programs such as LIHEAP heating bill assistance and Head Start. Resources are offered for Barry, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Lawrence, Polk, Stone, Taney, and Webster County. Ream more on Ozark Area Community Action Agency.
South Central Missouri Community Action Agency
Mailing address is P.O. Box 6
Winona, MO 65588-0006
Telephone: (573) 325-4255
Counties include Butler, Carter, Dent, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, and Wayne. Some of the key services include heating bill help from Dollar Help, Job training from WIA, and rent assistance. Click South Central Missouri Community Action Agency programs.
Community Action Agency of Greater Kansas City (formerly known as United Services Community Action Agency)
Main address is 6323 Manchester Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64133
(816) 358-6868
Counties supported are Clay, Jackson, and Platte. Read more Kansas City Community Action - United Services.
West Central Missouri Community Action Agency
Location is 106 West Fourth Street
Appleton City, Missouri 64724-0125
Call (660) 476-2185 for hours and intake.
Counties include Bates, Benton, Vernon, Cass, Cedar, Henry, Morgan. St. Clair, and Hickory. Click more information on West Central Missouri Community Action Agency.
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