Tompkins Community Action

See schedule otompkins Community Action is a private, not-for profit charitable organization that had its grassroots beginnings in 1964. Originally Tompkins county economic opportunity corporation or eoc, as it was known until our official corporate name change to Tompkins Community Action in 1999, began as a local coalition of concerned Community members who wanted to improve the lives of low income families in Tompkins county. Formally incorporated in 1966, the agency became part of a national and state network of Community Action agencies. From a small not-for-profit human service agency, with a yearly budget of approximately $25,000 and a staff of 3.5 employees in 1966 operating two programs, eoc transformed itself and has grown into Tompkins Community Action, a large, multi-faceted Community Action agency implementing and integrating 14 programs that service low-income individuals, families and Community collaborations. As one of Tompkins county's larger employers, the agency currently has a staff of 109 people who assist yearly approximately 3,565 low-income individuals through a wide variety of programming. We enter this year with renewed commitment to our mission, vision, and strategies for ending cycles of poverty in Tompkins county.head start and early head start programs served 342 children and their families. Program delivery supported pregnant women, newborns and children up to 5 years old in both classrooms and families' homes. With 25 classrooms county wide and collaborations with the ithaca school district serving as our delegate in 9 pre-k classrooms, children and families receive high quality developmentally appropriate education, individualization to enhance learning and Community resources to prepare our children for a lifetime of learning. Implementing high scope curriculum, programming focuses on the five domains identified to meet school readiness goals that prepare our children for kindergarten. Children's math and science skills increased by 26% and language literacy skills by 28% this program year. Child social relations skills increased by 29%; shows a strong indicator for school readiness and transition success. Family services included monthly socialization activities, parent Action groups, trainings, secondary education opportunities and seminars throughout the year, both in-person and utilizing virtual platforms.we served and/or delivered 80,431 breakfasts, lunches and snacks to children and families this year and expanded program activities linking active movement to healthy nutrition. The family home library provided 2,731 books and funding from the us department of health & human services totaled $4,220,558 funding for programming ($2,859,784 wages and fringe benefits, $795,739 operations, $254,274 ithaca school district delegate, $249,182 consumables). An additional $61,580 supported and expanded staff and parent education and training. Our primary school support program worked closely with parents and school officials to strengthen collaborative efforts on behalf of children transitioning to kindergarten in elementary schools. Advocates provided support for families at parent/teacher conferences, coordinated service delivery for children with special needs and supported positive communication between families and school system staff. The emergency food pantry distributed 5,733 boxes of nutritious food, personal hygiene products and household supplies to income eligible households. Our victory garden initiative provided vegetable and herb seedlings to 150 households with low incomes who participate in our programs.we provided housing choice voucher program rental assistance to over 1,133 households as the local administrator for nys homes and Community renewal. The total annual subsidy paid out to landlords was $9,775,153. 103 individuals participated in our family self sufficiency (fss) program, with 44 people earning escrow monies due to an increase in their earned income. As a partner in the solutions to end homelessness program of Tompkins county, tcaction provided 13 households with rental assistance and support. Tcaction provided rental assistance to 15 chronically homeless households who moved into permanent housing options with tenant based rental assistance. Our supportive housing programs provide safe and affordable housing for families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Residents concentrate on housing stability, building life skills, maintaining employment and furthering education goals. Chartwell house provided supportive services to 16 previously homeless men in recovery. Magnolia house, a supportive housing for families, served 14 households. Our supportive housing for families program assisted young families with the same supports listed above to 18-25 year olds with a focus on parenting skills at corn street apartments and amici house. Our corn street apartments assisted 9 families and amici house served 26 young households. Our newest supportive housing program expanded our youth programming and offered supportive services to 40 unites of young people experiencing homelessness at arthaus in ithaca, new york. Arthaus opened in the fall of 2021, and served 40 households who moved into brand new apartments and began the process of building lifeskills to stabilize in the new housing opportunity.