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Alert - Check here after 6:30 a.m. for schedule changes due to weather.

2009 - 2010 Energy Season:

  • An early start for Energy Applications was approved for August 3rd this year.
  • As of December 28th we have processed 8,213 applications and 5,640 have been approved for an award.

2009 - 2010 Wx (Weatherization) Program:

  • CAANH has completed 80% of our goal for weatherizing homes.
  • Note - participation in Wx requires prior certification for Energy assistance.

2008 - 2009 Program Successes:

  • During our Energy season, 14,914 individual applications were taken, serving approximately 35,000 families in the New Haven area.
  • 12,217 of those individuals were eligible for Energy assistance
  • Only 2,662 applications were denied either because they were over the income guidelines or because they had incomplete documentation

According to the data released from the Department of Social Services (DSS) on May 26, 2009. The Community Action Agency of New Haven (CAANH) serviced more people this year than ever before.  In fact, CAANH is the third highest ranking Community Action Agency in the state to achieve these numbers.

Our Weatherization program achieved its 08-09 goals as well.

Success Stories

Manage Your Future

Although the 2008 Manage Your Future program officially concluded in August, three of the participants are still serving as weekend volunteers at their respective host sites. These sites include a law office, a veterinary hospital, and a local garage where one student has found a way to connect his passion for cars and his mechanical ability with meaningful on-the-job experience. At the beginning of the program, his mother informed our Program Coordinator that she feared her son would not go to college; his goal is to open his own garage/ auto-body shop in the community in which he resides. His plan was to rely on his ability to take apart a car and put it back together to take him where he wanted to go, without much thought of pursuing an education. Through case management and the concerted efforts of both our Program Coordinator and this young man’s mother, he was persuaded to get the education needed to run his business as well as to secure future endeavors. He is now a student at Gateway Community College.

Clean Slate

This year, our Senior Vice President of Senior Services received a note from a young man who recently became unemployed. This young man had been instructed by the office of his State Representative, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, the Mayor’s office and the United Illuminating Company to contact CAANH for help. Although he had to wait to be seen, he said he was treated with dignity and compassion and felt “empowered” by our caseworker. He not only received energy assistance but also received help through the Fuel Bank’s Clean Slate program that helped to prevent the disconnection of his service.

Energy Assistance / HSI

On the last day to apply for energy assistance, a single mother of two, after being referred by Info-line/ 2-11, came into the Agency to get help because her gas had been shut-off. This woman recently had been through a series of unfortunate events, including the loss of employment. After being instructed by our receptionist, to have a seat and fill out the necessary forms she was greeted by one of our staff who reviewed her documentation and assured her that things would be okay. She stated that this staff member must have been a mind reader because it was just the assurance she needed at that time. Once her name was called, she said she was greeted with yet another smiling and welcoming face which was that of her case worker. Her case worker not only referred her to DSS but into HSI Case Management services where she received information through referral for job placement assistance. Even though this client had been denied DSS services in the past, her case worker guided and instructed her on the necessary steps to take, given her current circumstances. Her case management referral brought her full circle because she is now a part of the CT Works Work Experience Program, working here at the Agency. She is also applying for a permanent position as a part of our full-time staff.

Individual Development Accounts / IDA

Recently one of our IDA participants, a single mother of five who was recruited in 2007 and educated thru the homeownership classes here at CAANH has achieved success with her goal of owning a home. An employee of Yale University Dining Services, this client was tutored about the programs in the New Haven area that foster 1st time homeownership. She quickly asserted herself and became a part of Empower New Haven’s HomePower Initiative which helps first-time home buyers of one to four family homes, as well as Yale University’s Employee Homebuyer Program; she eagerly set out to save the necessary money to reach her goal. This IDA participant has stayed dedicated to her “Savings Plan Agreement” and last month, located a house at 54 Dewitt Street thru the Housing Rehabilitation Institute, another one of our community partners. The beautiful home has three floors with two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor, with access to the basement. The second and third floors have been combined to accommodate this family with four bedrooms, two full bathrooms, living room, dining room and kitchen. The house is equipped with all new kitchen appliances, including a dishwasher. There is a three car driveway and a completely fenced-in yard.

Energy Assistance/ Weatherization / HSI

In October 2007, a single mother applied for and was approved for CEAP Energy Assistance by CAANH. This Hispanic and non-English speaking single mother owns a house in West Haven. Along with her, resides her handicapped mother and her 5 year-old child. In October 2007, this CEAP recipient was referred to the Weatherization Department from the Energy Assistance Department. After being approved for weatherization assistance, her house was audited by a CAANH Certified Energy Auditor. Subsequent to the Energy Audit, weatherization work was assigned to 3 separate contractors to perform various weatherization improvements to her house. Those improvements included the installation of insulation in her walls, in her attic on her attic hatchway in her closet, the installation of weather stripping and door sweeps on her exterior doors, caulking around her vinyl windows on the inside of her house and the cleaning of her heating system. During the cleaning of her heating system, it was discovered that her oil-fired hot water boiler was in very bad condition and really needed to be replaced. However, by the time this was discovered, the 2007-2008 CEAP funds for Heating System Replacements had been depleted. So, the single mother was placed on a Waiting List, until such time as the CEAP funds were replenished. In October 2008, the CEAP Heating System Replacement Program was re-funded. The single mother was then referred back to CEAP, where her name was selected from the Waiting List. By the end of October, this CEAP and Weatherization client had her new oil-fired hot water boiler installed and working, just in time for winter. This story demonstrates how the Energy Assistance and the Weatherization Departments worked together through referrals and intra-departmental communication and coordination to improve the quality of life of one family in the New Haven area.