Helping People
•
Changing Lives
•
CAAP News
•
Helping People • Changing Lives • CAAP News •










Philadelphia's Proactive Approach: Canvassing Homes to Tackle the Opioid Crisis
In an innovative move, Philadelphia's Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity is tackling the opioid crisis head-on by going door-to-door. This groundbreaking initiative aims to prevent fatal overdoses and raise awareness in neighborhoods facing rising rates. The city's proactive approach involves distributing vital resources, including Narcan, and initiating conversations about drug use directly with residents. This community-driven strategy sheds light on overdose hotspots often overlooked, emphasizing the need for open discussions and resources within families and communities.

Lebanon County Housing Needs Assessment Report
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, increasing access to affordable housing correlates directly with economic growth. Research shows that the shortage of affordable housing costs the American economy about $2 trillion a year in lower wages and productivity. Additionally affordable housing is the most cost-effective strategy for reducing childhood poverty, Stanford economist Raj Chetty found that children who moved to lower poverty neighborhoods saw their earnings as adults increase by almost 31%. Children in stable affordable homes are more likely to thrive in school and have greater opportunities to learn inside and outside the classroom. It is important we begin to understand how affordable housing strategies can be made in Pennsylvania.

Westmoreland Community Action announces groundbreaking Recovery FARM
Westmoreland Community Action announces groundbreaking Recovery FARM. The FARM will be a long-term recovery community where individuals will live after their initial detox and residential rehabilitation. This project is made possible by a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to develop a feasibility study and implementation plan for expanding the current recovery-to-work ecosystem in Westmoreland County.

First Annual CAAPtivating Excellence Awards
The Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP) is proud to announce the winners of the First Annual CAAPtivating Awards, held on October 18th, 2023 at the Eden Resorts in Lancaster. The awards ceremony, held as part of the CAAP Annual Conference, recognized individuals in the Pennsylvania Community Action Network for their excellence, dedication, and hard work in the fight against poverty.

Evangelical Honors the Community
Sue Auman, Executive Director of Union-Synder Community Action, has been honored with the President's Award for her outstanding service and commitment to the community on November 14th, 2023.

CAP Infinity Intermediate: Now Open!
CAP Infinity Intermediate offers specialized training for Community Action professionals. It covers organizational tools, problem-solving strategies, best practices, coaching, mentoring, project management, and SWOT and SOAR analyses to enhance leadership and strategic skills in Community Action.

Tri County Community Action Launches Winter Heating Support for Low-Income Families
Tri County Community Action, in collaboration with Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and representatives of the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission, convened on Wednesday to kickstart the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season. LIHEAP, overseen by DHS, is a federally funded initiative offering direct grants to heating providers for low-income households. Grants range from a minimum grant of $300 to a maximum of $1000. Additionally, crisis grants are available for those facing service termination or possessing less than two weeks’ worth of deliverable fuel, such as fuel oil, propane, coal, or wood.



Pennsylvania’s Charitable Nonprofit Caucus Information
Lawmakers and nonprofit professionals relaunched Pennsylvania’s Charitable Nonprofit Caucus on June 21, 2023. Co-chaired by Representatives Abigail Salisbury and Joe Hogan as well as Senators Jay Costa and Lynda Schlegel Culver, this bicameral, bipartisan caucus will help ensure that PA's nonprofit community has the legislative support we need to carry out our critical missions.
