Johnston-Lee-Harnett Community Action Incorporated

FOR THE PAST 55 YEARS JOHNSTON-LEE-HARNETT COMMUNITY ACTION, INC. HAS BEEN HELPING OUR FELLOW CITIZENS TO OVERCOME HARDSHIPS AND TO HELP LIFT THEM OUT OF POVERTY. WE ARE A PRIVATE, NON-PROFIT AGENCY THAT PROVIDES RESOURCES TO HELP PERMANENTLY IMPROVE THE LIVES OF THE DISADVANTAGED. WE STRIVE TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO BE EMPOWERED THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT EDUCATION, SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND A WILLINGNESS TO GIVE BACK TO SOCIETY. WE ARE DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE, CHANGING LIVES.

USDA & HEAD START PROGRAM - HEAD START IS A COMPREHENSIVE PRESCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE YOUNG CHILD AND HIS OR HER ENTIRE FAMILY. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ACCESS TO SERVICES THAT PROMOTE SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE PROGRAM OFFERS EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE PROGRAMMING, PARENT INVOLVEMENT PROGRAMMING, AND FAMILY SERVICES. FOURTEEN FAMILY SERVICE STAFFERS WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH HEAD START FAMILIES TO ASSIST THEM IN MEETING THEIR SELF-SUFFICIENCY GOALS. MENTAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION ARE VITAL COMPONENTS IN THE HEAD START EXPERIENCE. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES EXTENSIVE SERVICES TO CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.

PROJECT HOPE - PROGRAM ADMINISTERED PAYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR CLIENTS WHO ARE BEHIND IN RENTAL PAYMENTS AND UTILITY PAYMENTS. AGENCY IS ABLE TO ASSIST UP TO 6 MONTHS. AIDING IN KEEPING CLIENTS AND FAMILY IN HOUSING DURING THE PANDEMIC.

COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT- OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY'S INITIATIVE IN IDENTIFYING BARRIERS AND SETTING GOALS IN ORDER TO ATTAIN SELF-SUFFICIENCY. IT ENCOURAGES THEM TO FORGE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE FAMILY AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THEIR PROBLEMS. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF FOUR COMPONENTS THAT ADDRESS HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL, EMPLOYMENT AND BUDGETING NEEDS. IT SEEKS TO PROMOTE THE SELF-ESTEEM AND SELF-DIRECTION OF THE CLIENT. INTERVENTION OF THIS TYPE CAN IMPROVE THE RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE FAMILY AND WITH THE COMMUNITY.

HEATING APPLIANCE REPAIR & REPLACEMENT - HOME AND HEATING SYSTEM REPAIRS AND REPLACING HEATING SYSTEMS WHEN NEEDED.DUKE ENERGY HELPING HOME FUND - THE DUKE ENERGY HELPING HOME FUND IS A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS FREE ASSISTANCE FOR INCOME QUALIFIED CUSTOMERS OF DUKE ENERGY TO MAKE THEIR HOMES MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. RECIPIENTS GET A COMPLETE HOME ENERGY ASSESSMENT AND ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM SAVE ON ENERGY BILLS.HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD) - THE HUD PROGRAM IS OPERATED UNDER THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. JLHCA CONDUCTS PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING, HOMEBUYER EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, DELINQUENT/DEFAULT COUNSELING, AND REVERSE MORTGAGE COUNSELING. THE HUD PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES THE RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES HOUSING RELOCATION AND STABILIZATION WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HOMELESS PERSONS. THE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION OF AGING. PARTICIPANTS MUST MEET THE HUD DEFINITION OF HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE INCOME BELOW 30 PERCENT OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME FOR THE AREAS AS DETERMINED BY HUD.WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM - AIR SEALING, USING A NEW TECHNIQUE TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM ENERGY CONSERVATION DURING EXTREME WEATHER, REHABILITATING SUBSTANDARD HOUSING TO STANDARD HOUSING, AND OFFERING EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS IN SMALL HOME REPAIRS AND ENERGY CONSERVATION. URGENT REPAIRS ARE MADE WHEN FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE. THE AGENCY PROVIDES HOME WEATHERIZATION SERVICES TO RESIDENTS IN JOHNSTON, LEE, AND HARNETT COUNTIES WHO MEET THE 150% TO 200% FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES AND HAVE BEEN SEVERELY AFFECTED BY THE ECONOMIC RECESSION.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT - AN IN-HOUSE RENOVATION PROGRAM. JLHCA HAS A GENERAL CONTRACTOR'S LICENSE THAT ALLOWS CONSTRUCTION AS WELL AS HOME RENOVATION.EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER - THE AGENCY PROVIDES EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE WHEN NO OTHER RESOURCE IS AVAILABLE. ASSISTANCE COMES FROM LOCAL CHURCHES, LOCAL AREA MINISTRIES, AND THE UNITED WAY. THE AGENCY ALSO HAS ACCESS TO LOCAL FOOD CLOSETS THROUGHOUT THE AREA THAT ARE OPERATED BY AREA MINISTRIES AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE AGENCY.OTHER LOCAL PROGRAMS - INCLUDE: UNITED WAY, A PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS CLIENTS WITH EMERGENCY CRISIS SITUATIONS SUCH AS DISCONNECTION OF UTILITIES, EVICTIONS, MEDICATION, AND OTHER EMERGENCY NEEDS TO STABILIZE THE FAMILY; AND DSS-HARNETT CO-PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN HARNETT COUNTY TO ASSIST WITH ENROLLING CLIENTS INTO THE CIP AND LIEAP PROGRAM.