Community Action Duluth

COMMUNITY ACTION DULUTH STRIVES TO BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POVERTY AND PROSPERITY. WE MAKE THIS DIFFERENCE BY HELPING PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES DEVELOP ASSETS THAT THEY CAN LEVERAGE TO GET OUT OF POVERTY. THESE ASSETS INCLUDE FINANCIAL SKILLS, EDUCATION, FINANCIAL AND EMPLOYMENT COACHING, ASSET BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES, JOB SKILLS, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, SOCIAL CAPITAL, HEALTH SKILLS, INSURANCE, AS WELL AS FAIR POLICY AND HEALTHY NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

COMMUNITY CONSTRUCTION, A PILOT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2020 HAS BEEN MET WITH GREAT SUCCESS. DURING FY21 CAD PARTNERED WITH THE HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF DULUTH, MN TO REHAB LOW-INCOME SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS USING A COHORT OF LOW-INCOME PARTICIPANTS WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT (HOMELESSNESS, LACK OF EDUCATION, UNMET TRANSPORTATION NEEDS, ETC.). CAD HIRES, TRAINS, AND EDUCATES A NEW COHORT OF PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR IN THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES, WHILE ACTIVELY REHABILITATING HRA-OWNED HOMES THAT WILL BE SOLD TO QUALIFYING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ASSIST EACH COHORT IN OVERCOMING THEIR BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSURES IN VARIOUS CONSTRUCTION TRADES AT THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR PERIOD. IN FY21, COMMUNITY CONSTRUCTION PARTICIPANTS ACHIEVED A TOTAL OF 11 INDIVIDUAL CARPENTRY CERTIFICATES, 10 OSHA CERTIFICATES, AND 11 CPR AND AED CERTIFICATIONS. TWO INDIVIDUALS WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN JOBS IN THE LOCAL IRON WORKERS AND CARPENTRY UNIONS UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, 2 INDIVIDUALS WERE PROMOTED TO FULL-TIME CONSTRUCTION MANAGER POSITIONS WITHIN CAD TO ASSIST WITH FUTURE COHORTS, AND 4 FOUND OTHER EMPLOYMENT WORKING WITH LOCAL REMODELERS. THE PROGRAM ALSO ASSISTED 2 PARTICIPANTS IN COMPLETING THEIR GED, 3 PARTICIPANTS OBTAINED THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES, 1 INDIVIDUAL WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE A HOME, AND 2 WERE ABLE TO FIND AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING. ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS AT CAD: OUR BENEFITS OUTREACH TEAM ASSISTED 347 INDIVIDUALS IN ENROLLING IN MNSURE, AND 85 RECEIVED ASSISTANCE ENROLLING IN SNAP. OUR TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM 'JUMP START' ASSISTED 58 INDIVIDUALS WITH TRANSPORTATION SERVICES SUCH AS SUPPORT OBTAINING A DRIVER'S LICENSE, PAYING FINES AND FEES, AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION-RELATED SERVICES. THE 'BIKES PLUS' PORTION OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM PROVIDED NEARLY 250 FREE BICYCLES TO LOW-INCOME PARTICIPANTS.

CAD'S NEW 'MOBILE MARKET' GROCERY PROGRAM BY 'SEEDS OF SUCCESS' SERVED 351 EBT USERS, DISTRIBUTED 1,446 IN FREE PRODUCE TO CHILDREN AND ELDERS, AND MATCHED 1,532 SNAP DOLLARS FOR THE PURCHASE OF PRODUCE. THE 'FARMER'S MARKETS' SERVED 526 EBT USERS AND DISTRIBUTED 14,268 IN SNAP AND SNAP MATCH DOLLARS, AND THE 'POWER OF PRODUCE' (POP) PROGRAM DISTRIBUTED 4,518 FOR CHILDREN AND ELDERS TO PURCHASE FRESH MARKET PRODUCE. DULUTH STREAM CORPS COMPLETED ONE OF THEIR LARGE RESTORATION PROJECTS; REDUCING UNTREATED RUNOFF ALONG TISCHER CREEK AND IT'S TRIBUTARY. THE PROJECT RESTORED AND SURVEYED 23.1 ACRES OF LAND, AND 0.63 ACRES OF SHORELINE, BY PLANTING 260 NATIVE BUSHES, AND 5,558 NATIVE TREE PLUGS. STREAM CORPS ALSO TREATED 34 SITES FOR NON-NATIVE INVASIVE PHRAGMITES, AND LAUNCHED AN INVENTORY OF EVERY PUBLIC ROAD IN SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS COUNTY MAPPING BOTH NATIVE AND INVASIVE STANDS OF PHRAGMITES. CAD'S 'FREE TAX SITE' ASSISTED PARTICIPANTS IN COMPLETING AND FILING 777 INDIVIDUAL TAX RETURNS, RECOUPING 1,209,016 IN REFUNDS.

'CONNECT FORWARD', THE COACHING PROGRAM AT CAD, ASSISTED 78 INDIVIDUALS IN IMPROVING THEIR CREDIT SCORES, 44 IN INCREASING THEIR NET WORTH, AND 44 IN OBTAINING A RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATE OR CREDENTIAL. 181 INDIVIDUALS COMPLETED MONEY MANAGEMENT CLASSES, AND 6 INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED IN PURCHASING A HOME.