2021 Rebuild

DEI

CAP believes in the opportunity to be a leading voice in community conversations regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. In order to position the organization as a leader in this space, it is important to ensure CAP has taken the appropriate steps to become an agency that infuses DEI best practices and principles throughout its many programs and staff. To that end, CAP will engage a professional consulting firm to conduct workshops, discussion circles and an audit of procedures and policies, among other things, in order to infuse DEI culture and practices into our everyday operations and our overall organizational strategy for success.

DVS Economic Impact According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, between 94% and 99% of survivors have experienced financial abuse, including being prevented from going to work, employment sabotage, debt run up in their names, having their credit scores destroyed by the abusive partner, and refusal to pay court-ordered spousal or child support. Domestic violence survivors deserve access to the resources they need. They deserve housing, jobs, and economic resources for their families. This is true whether they leave abusive relationships or remain in them.

This year DVS received the Moving Forward grant from the Allstate Foundation, partially funded through the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV). Through this initiative, the goal is to improve the social conditions that prevent long-term independence and safety through comprehensive domestic violence program advocate training and the continual development of tools and resources that address the barriers to economic stability and safety. To achieve this goal, the DVS team, led by our Economic/Financial Empowerment Advocate, is focused on providing advocates with the tools and resources to help survivors access education, develop budgeting skills, repair credit, build savings, find affordable housing and gain meaningful employment.

COMING SOON

Water Program

In 2020, households in Lancaster faced many tough decisions, such as which bills to pay first with limited income. In this circumstance many folks choose to delay utility payments, which seem like less pressing needs compared to things like food, rent, and medicine. However, falling behind on utility payments can catch up to you in a big way. Late fees and penalties, such as reconnection fees, make it so that once a customer is behind, it is very difficult to catch up. Utility shutoffs can lead to dangerous conditions, and ultimately be grounds for eviction. CAP’s Utility Assistance program worked with nearly 12,500 households to help individuals and families remain stable in their utility payments. In fact, the team was able to expand our services and in addition to funding for gas and electricity bills, CAP was able to partner with the City to secure CARES funding to support households behind on water payments.

Filling this gap in services is important because water bills are only generated quarterly, and are typically larger, making it more difficult for those experiencing financial hardship to come up with payment on their own. In addition to adding new funding, Utility Assistance was able to quickly pivot to a virtual model, ensuring that customers were still able to access support during the pandemic!

Reentry

The Lancaster County Reentry Coalition has been dedicating efforts to build a robust group of agencies and individuals committed to supporting our vision and mission to cultivate community engagement, collaboration, and capacity building to support the successful reentry of individuals to their communities. We have been focused on writing a strategic plan that addresses the persistent / emerging obstacles that reentrants face in our county. We currently have partners from various agencies and reentrants participating in four impact groups who each are addressing specific obstacles. Four additional impact groups are planned to begin in the fall of 2021. We also have a committed group of leaders from key agencies as part of a Steering Committee whose role is to ensure that we stay aligned with the vision and mission as well as addressing the systemic obstacles that reentrants face. We will have our strategic plan completed early fall 2021.

New Refrigerated Truck

During the COVID-19 pandemic, CAP began packing food boxes to serve the increased need for food at our 30+ partner pantries, while also encouraging safety among customers picking up food. A local company generously donated a refrigerated truck for several months, which ensured perishables could be transported safely. In order to continue this enhanced service for pantries, CAP applied for a grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection to secure funding to purchase our own refrigerated truck. We received the funding and purchased the truck, which will allow our food distribution team increased access to pick up perishables from food producers, processors and grocers that routinely offer donations, some of which we had to decline in the past due to a lack of a safe way to retrieve them.