The Promise of Community Action

Community Action changes people’s lives,

embodies the spirit of hope,

improves communities,

and makes America a better place to live.

We care about the entire community,

and we are dedicated

to helping people

help themselves and each other.

Service Delivery Locations

Willimantic 1315 Main Street, Suite 2 Willimantic, CT 06226 (860) 450-7400 Access and Visitation Access to Assets Administration & Finance Case Management Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Climb the Ladder to a Successful Future Emergency Food Bank Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention (EFPP) Housing Preservation Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Parent Education Program (PEP) Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition (WIC) Weatherization (Energy Conservation) Windham Area Hour Exchange

Danielson 231 Broad Street Danielson, CT 06239 (860) 412-1600 Access and Visitation Beyond Shelter Case Management Climb the Ladder to a Successful Future Community Based Life Skills Emergency Food Bank Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention (EFPP) Next Steps Supportive Housing Parent Education Program (PEP) Supportive Housing for Families® Youth Group Homes Youth Mentoring

Emergency Shelter 51 Reynolds Street Danielson, CT 06239 (860) 774-4977

Hawkins House Adolescent Group Home Danielson, CT 06239

Crossroads Adolescent Transitional Supervised Apartments Norwich, CT 06360

Senior Services Beckish Senior Center 188 Route 66 Columbia, CT 06237 (860) 228-0759

Senior Housing Willington Woods 60A Old Farms Road Willington, CT 06279 (860) 429-8777

Elisha Brook 56 New Park Avenue Franklin, CT 06254 (860) 886-0367

www.accessagency.org The Access Community Action Agency is

an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Together We Are Strong

A letter from our Board Chair and President/CEO

Dear Friends:

Welcome to the Access Community Action Agency’s 2012 Annual Report. As in years past, this report provides you a sampling of the results Access has achieved during the past year, including some examples of people who’ve been able to overcome barriers that impair their ability to be economically stable – which is our core mission.

We hope you will take a few minutes to look at the report and gain some insight into the good work that was done during fiscal year 2012, which covers July 2011 – June 2012. You’ll also be able to see how Access effectively used the community’s resources that we hold in stewardship to strengthen the region.

The past year was another challenging one for Access, as it was for many in this region. Yet with the support of a strong board of directors, other community leaders, local individuals, businesses, foundations, faith communities and of course dedicated staff, we have effectively and efficiently partnered to fight poverty and meet challenges every day.

The theme of this report is “Together We Are Strong”. It is only by working together that we can support each other and build a community that nurtures economic opportunity for all who are able and provides compassion, care and support for those in need — when they need it.

With ongoing support and partnerships, Access will continue to work as your eyes, ears and hands in the region to ensure that all families and individuals can overcome the barriers that get in the way of realizing economic stability. There is no more important work than this, and no more important partner than you.

We hope you find this Annual Report informative and inspiring. We are certainly inspired by both the outstanding support and collaborations that are at the heart of our success.

Sincerely, Mary A. DeMarco Peter S. DeBiasi Board Chair President/CEO

Borner, Aleman & Davis, LLC

Brownstone Exploration & Discovery

Carlin Construction Company

Celebrations Gallery & Shoppes

Christ Church of Pomfret

Control Concepts, Inc.

Cornerstone Baptist Church

Congregational Church of Thompson

Core Plus Credit Union

CT Department of Labor Employees

D. H. Copeland Builders

Danielson Rotary

Design Center East

Eastern Connecticut State University

Federated Church of Christ

Foster Corporation

Friendly Spirits Liquor Store

Generations Family Health Center

Gerardi Insurance Services

Hampton Congregational Church

IBC, Inc.

Killingly Quiet Corner Lions Club

King Cadillac-GMC

Landon’s Tire

Lefkowitz, Garfinkel, Champi & Derienzo, LLP

Loss Solutions Group

Lowe’s Heroes Program

PAP Auto and Hardware

Pomfret Community School Teachers & Staff

Putnam Bank

Putnam Emblem Club #209

Putnam Ford

Quiet Corner Democrats

Quinebaug Pomona Grange #2

R & R Insulators

Rawson Materials

Saslow Lufkin & Buggy, LLC

Savings Institute Bank and Trust

Scott’s Cyclery

Smith Insurance

St. James Council Knights of Columbus, Danielson

St. Mary’s Church, Coventry

Staples

Storrs Friends Meeting

Taylor Brook Winery

Temple B’nai Israel

Tazmanian Tree Devil, LLC

Town of Brooklyn

Town of Chaplin

Town of Hampton

Town of Scotland

True Value Cash Home Center

Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern CT

Donations received Oct. 2, 2011 through Sept. 30, 2012.

Financial Statement

Meeting Basic Needs WIC, CACFP, LEAP, Emergency Shelter, Food Banks, Energy Assistance, Case Management, Housing Prevention, EFPP, ASHoW, ASHoF

INCOME $9,652,305 EXPENSE 9,645,259

Fostering Positive At-Risk Youth Development Residential Services, Mentoring, Parenting Programs

INCOME $1,405,876 EXPENSE 1,739,827

Building Capacity for Income & Asset Accumulation IDA Programs, ARRA CSBG Projects, Energy Conservation, Workforce Development

INCOME $8,647,299 EXPENSE 7,760,375

Administration & Property INCOME $902,487 EXPENSE 993,610

Unrestricted Contributions INCOME $32,000

TOTALS INCOME $20,639,967 EXPENSE 20,139,071

Change in Net Assets $500,896

Funding Sources

Federal Agencies Department of Labor (DOL) Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Department of Energy (DOE) United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

State Agencies Department of Children & Families (DCF) Department of Social Services (DSS) Department of Education (SDOE) Department of Labor (SDOL) Department of Public Health (DPH) Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS) Judicial Branch

Local Agencies Northeast Utilities (NU) Yankee Gas (YGAS) United Way

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Individual Donors Samantha Abbamonte

Dewitt C. Allen

Maggie Appleton

Gary & Donna Arpin

Jody Aubin

Ken Avery

Angela Bachand

Jo-Ann Barrows

Sandy Barton

Mitch Beauregard

Michael and Elaine Bernier

Harry & Honey Birkenruth

Judy Blakeley

Kathy Borner

Joan Bourque

Ann & Bruce Branchini

Stephen Broderick

Irene Q. Brown

Melissa Burdick

Howie Bursen

William & Nancy Cooke Bunnell

Marlene Cady

Lawrence Carey

Hugh & Cynthia Casey

Matilde Casoni

Charles Chatterton, Jr.

Lauren Cheslick

Dan Coleman

Raymond Congelosi

James Correira

Kjrsten Cote

Joe & Audrey Courtney

Karen & Michael Credit

Kathryn Crees

Carmen Cruz

Douglas Cutler

Sherry D’Alessandro

Robert & Cheryl Darling

Peter & Gloria Murray DeBiasi

Dorothy Delvalle

Carla Demers

Mary A. DeMarco

Danielle Deschenes

Jean deSmet

Mary Lou DeVivo

Thomas Dombrowski

Robert Dubois, II

Carlyn Duncan

Joan Dunham

Cindy Dupointe

Katelyn Dupointe

Leslie Dutil

Karen & Robert Dyson

Phillip & Jamie Elliott

Olga Kurnyk Ezis

Steven & Lorna Fairless

Yesenia Figureroa

Mae Flexer

John Folsom

Kate Fortier

Alejandro Fuentes

Patricia Gaenzler

Stephen & Joan Garfinkel

David Gaudreau, O.D.

Lionel Gaudreau

Bruce Goldstein

Ronald Goldstein, Esq.

Veronica Gomez

James Goodwin

Sam Gordon

Ann Gruenberg, Ph.D.

Kevin Grunwald

Anthony Guglielmo

Gregory Haddad

Kristen Haddad

Christopher Hagen

Betty Hale

Jennifer Hart

Jo-Ann Heath

Rachel Heath

Sarah Heminway

Shana & Rob Heon

Joy Hollister

Atty. John Horak

Katherine Ives

Rev. Raymond Introvigne

Bianca Jimenez

Donna Johnston

Kevin & Margaret Johnston

Thomas & Joanne Kasprzak

Gail Kennedy

Hal & Susan Keshner

Ann Kouatly

Carol Kraus

Lindsay (Bowes) Kyle

Claire LaBelle

Robert & Susan Langevin

Rusty Lanzit

Deborah Lax

Karen Lechene

Lynn Legary

Mary Lenzini

Kristian Lester

Mark Light

Atty. Nicholas Longo

Perry Mandanis

Peter B. Mann

Kathleen Martin

Rebecca (Mainville) Mather

Catherine McNeill

Brenda Mitchell

Kathy Mitchell

Judith & Richard Miller

Peter Millman

Anne Moore

Yanaira Morales

Jo D Nafis

Erin Noren

Terrence O’Brien

Bob & Leslie O’Connell

Giselle Ortiz-Ruiz

Paula & Charles Panteleakos

Raymond F. Parlatto

Cynthia Perkins

Melissa Phillips

John M. Potvin

Parrish Protheroe

Mildred Rapp

Anthony Reale

Dorene Reale

Peter & Barbara Rich

The Richards Family

Shirley Riemann

Jasaira Rivera

Angelique Roberts

Ronald & Christine Robinson

Dahianna Rodriguez

Jessica Rodriguez

Ines Rolon

Myrna Romero

Dan Rose

Damaris Ruiz

Jessica Sacilowski

Atty. Christian Sarantopoulos

Helen Scanlon

David Shadbegian

Carol Shea

Nancy & William Shevin, MD

Jennifer Smith

Richard Smith

Brenda Soileau

Lissette Soto

Jessica Stomberg

Erik Swanson

Mary Jean Sznurkowski

Lee E. Terry

Rev. Gregory Thomas

Donna Tomasso

Luz Torres

Virginia Valentine

Juanita Vazquez

Dolly Von Husen

Steven & Catherine Vollweiler

Douglas Warner

Robert & Leslie Westhaver

Cathy Whitehead

Patricia Wilson Pheanious

Jennifer Witter

Henry Woodbridge, Jr.

Walter Zoldak

Foundations Amica Companies Foundation

Bank of America Foundation

Eastern Federal Bank Foundation

Greater Worcester Community Foundation

Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program

Windham Area Women & Girls Fund

Business Donors 101 Business Solutions

Amplisound Hearing Products

Benick Machineworks

Bob’s Discount Furniture

2012 Annual Appeal Many thanks to our donors, who prove that “Together We Are Strong.”

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Our Community Vision

Windham and Tolland Counties will be a region whose residents

and communities have and effectively use the resources

necessary to ensure that all of its families and individuals thrive.

Our Mission

To create the conditions that empower individuals and families

to overcome the barriers that impair their ability

to be economically stable.

Strategic Commitments

Meet Basic Human Needs

Build Capacity to Accumulate Income and Assets

Foster Positive At-Risk-Youth Development

Our Values

Compassion Empowerment

Respect Synergy

Accountability Excellence

Thank you to our July 2011 –June 2012 Board of Directors!

The Access Community Action Agency Board of Directors consists of dedicated volunteers who generously donate their

time and talent in service of the local community. They represent the region’s towns, private businesses, organizations,

and constituent groups.

Mary DeMarco, Chair

Tammy Miner, Vice Chair

Grace Curran, Treasurer

Ann Gruenberg, Ph.D., Secretary

Douglas Cutler

Mae Flexer

Veronica Gomez

Joy Hollister

Olga Kurnyk-Ezis

Patricia Wilson Pheanious

Melissa Phillips

David Pinney

Ines Rolon

Jessica Sacilowski

Dolly Von Husen

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Table of Contents

Strategic Framework ................. 1

Meeting Basic Needs ................ 2

Asset Accumulation .................. 4

Youth Development .................. 6

Annual Appeal ........................... 8

Financial Statement .................. 9

D orothea came to the Access Community Action Agency’s Homelessness Prevention Program after having been referred

to the agency by another support organization. Dorothea had suffered through years of chronic homelessness, domestic violence, and substance dependence, and was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result.

Dorothea was relocated to Access’s Emergency Shelter, where she was empowered to address her mental health and wellness, substance abuse, and housing needs. “Life at the Emergency Shelter offered me hope that I would get back on my feet again,” she remembers, “and it made me feel confident about my life.”

Staff was impressed with how diligently Dorothea worked to achieve her desired goals, following up on all recommendations toward housing and treatment services. Not only did she thrive in the supportive environment provided at the Shelter, but her hard work resulted in her successful move out of the Shelter and into permanent supportive housing.

Dorothea marvels at how much she has achieved, noting that without Access’s Homelessness Prevention Program, “Maybe I’d still be on the street or at another shelter.”

Dorothea will continue to receive critical support toward her next goals as well as services from Access through the agency’s Next Step Supportive Housing program. She is excited about her future, affirming, “I never want to be homeless again. I want to get my GED, get part-time employment, and continue to work toward my well-being. […] I’m so grateful for being able to get into Access’s shelter.”

Meeting Basic Human Needs

2

Results That Matter

Access works with youth and their families to overcome obstacles and challenges in their lives while teaching them skills so they can become economically stable.

141 divorcing parents of 196

children completed the Parent

Education Program to learn how

to help their children deal with

difficulties related to divorce.

72 children and youth were able to

remain or were reunited with their

biological parents through positive

parenting skill development as

well as home health and safety

improvement and education.

76 children were able to maintain

positive relationships with their

non-custodial parents through

supervised visitations.

20 adolescent girls were supported

in developing independent living skills

at school, work, and volunteering

experiences while living in safe,

nurturing group homes.

14 youth improved their academic,

athletic, and/or social skills for

school success through

one-on-one mentoring.

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Belinda is grateful for the learning she accomplished during her time at Crossroads. “It helped with my education — not only with school — but with knowledge of time management skills and financial literacy. It helped me learn the basics, such as grocery shopping and opening a bank account. Crossroads helped alleviate the struggle of being independent at a young age.”

Today, Belinda is a junior at Eastern Connecticut State University, majoring in social work with a minor in women’s studies with hopes to advocate for women’s reproductive rights and social justice.

This year, two more young women from Crossroads — Kat and Zana — achieved major milestones on their ways to following in Belinda’s path toward successful independent adulthood. Both young women graduated from high school and are embarking on college studies armed with the educational success tools learned in the program. Kat is now pursuing a degree in accounting at Three Rivers Community College and has also secured a job in a local office. Zana worked over the summer as a counselor at a local summer camp and, this fall, started attending the University of Connecticut at its West Hartford campus.

Crossroads Director, Katrina Kettle, acknowledges the hard work these young women put in to achieving this very important milestone in the face of all their past struggles. “We are very proud of Kat and Zana!”

Fostering Positive

At-Risk-Youth Development

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W hen adolescents begin their residencies at the Access

Community Action Agency’s Crossroads Supportive Work Education and Transition Program, they have already faced great obstacles in their young lives.

When Belinda arrived at the program, she had spent years bouncing back and forth between the homes of family and friends until she had “burned her bridges” and had nowhere else to go. “Crossroads was my last resort,” she remembers.

Crossroads is a community-based, transitional living program for adolescent females — and more recently, adolescent males. Crossroads youth are referred to the program by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) because they are near aging out of the department’s system and need support to transition into independent adult lives.

Often these youth come to Crossroads still wrestling with the demons of their pasts — histories of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Some struggle with making positive choices, leading to poor school performance, dysfunctional relationships, substance abuse, and other dangerous circumstances and behaviors. As Belinda recalls, “I would have continued on my path of self-destruction if I hadn’t gotten to Crossroads.”

Crossroads offers these youth opportunities to overcome the barriers borne of the issues that haunt their pasts and to learn — through practical application — critical independent living skills needed to succeed as adults. Youth residents live in a supervised apartment setting and practice budgeting and money management, health and medical care management, household management, and educational and vocational achievement. They also participate in scheduled recreational activities

and cultural events to increase their positive

engagement in the community. Program staff

works closely with the program’s youth to

help them define and achieve

their goals.

Results That Matter

Access provides access to food, housing, and other basic needs

assistance to people going through difficult times, giving them

help and hope so they can get back on their feet and move

toward economic stability.

4,216 adults and 2,399 children received 76,515 meals from Access’s

two food banks.

2,419 women, infants, and children had access to nutrition education,

and to monthly supplemental healthy food vouchers worth $1,446,165.

213,116 nutritious meals and snacks were provided to 502 low-income

children enrolled in 64 licensed home child care settings.

287 homeless individuals, comprised of 42 families with 66 children

and 176 single adults were temporarily housed in our Emergency

Shelter.

64 families and individuals moved from emergency or transitional

housing to safe, stable housing.

77 families were able to maintain permanent housing because of

rental assistance.

12 single, previously chronically homeless individuals attained and

maintained permanent housing.

17 evictions were prevented with the use of funds to cover back rent

and the development of payment continuation plans.

59 one-bedroom senior housing units provided affordable living to

seniors at Elisha Brook in Franklin and Willington Woods in Willington.

8,160 households received help paying their heat utility bills.

23 low-income households were cleared of lead hazards; 6 residents

of these homes were children under six years old.

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A fter losing his job, Walter found himself falling far behind in paying

his rent and other bills. Month after month went by with no job prospects and, as is the case for so many long-term unemployed, as Walter remained without employment prospects and his financial situation deteriorated, he began to suffer from depression.

Walter remembers the desperation of his search and his frustration as each employment lead went nowhere: “I went to three different staffing sources with no luck, until I eventually ran out of money.”

Ultimately, Walter lost his apartment where he had been living in Groton. So, with only the shirt on his back, he drove his moped scooter from the Connecticut coastline to Danielson in the state’s northeast corner. A friend invited Walter to stay with him until he could find work and get back on his feet.

But, even that living arrangement ended as the symptoms of Walter’s depression became more pronounced.

That is when Walter came to Access’s Emergency Shelter in Danielson, where he began a program of comprehensive case management and worked closely with his case manager to build an action plan that connected him with

important resources, including programs to address his emotional and medical well-being.

Walter also participated in Access’s workforce development program, and received referrals to a host of job-readiness resources, such as skills assessments and training opportunities through the Department of Labor’s CT Works. Walter recalls how hard he worked at improving his employability, noting, “I went to CT Works every day and attended every workshop I could.”

Walter rebuilt his self-esteem, created a strong resume, and launched himself into an enthusiastic job search. He remembers how supportive his case worker was, sharing, “I was encouraged to apply for a job every day and look for affordable housing.”

With his new-found confidence, Walter quickly found a full-time job at a popular

Building Capacity for Income and Asset Accumulation

4

restaurant in Brooklyn. “Hank’s was the first place I applied, and I was so persistent, they gave me an interview and hired me that night for an immediate start the next day!”

Walter is happy in his work and was thrilled to move out of the Shelter into an apartment of his own. He is grateful for the help he received from Access and says one of the best things about leaving the Shelter was enabling “someone else who needs help to have his room.”

Results That Matter

Access helps people to prepare for work and to budget their hard-earned money to be able to purchase assets, with the ultimate goal of achieving family economic stability.

1,760 low-income homes have

lowered home heating costs due

to their homes being weatherized

at an estimated annual savings

totaling $961,100 in reduced

energy costs; 2,746 homes

lowered their energy costs

through HES-IE (formerly WRAP)

program work.

23 full-time jobs were created or

retained in the Weatherization

Assistance Program (WAP) funded

by the American Recovery and

Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

39 individuals completed job-

related training and received

licenses and/or certificates.

35 low-income adults and youth

actively participated in a matched

savings and financial literacy

program; of those, two adults and

nine youth were able to purchase

the qualifying asset for which they

had saved.

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