Project Go Inc

PROJECT GO, INC. WAS FOUNDED ON A VISION OF ASSISTING LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS IN THE AREA OF ENERGY CONSERVATION IN 1978, AND IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITIES, HAVING PROVIDED DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING SINCE 1990.

PROVIDE EMERGENCY ENERGY ASSISTANCE:THROUGH THE LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP/LIHEAP), PGI STAFF PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH THE PAYMENT OF UTILITY BILLS (UA) TO AVOID UTILITY DISRUPTION OR FUTURE DISRUPTION. THE LIHEAP PROGRAM ALSO ALLOWS PGI TO PURCHASE PROPANE, FIREWOOD, AND OIL FOR CLIENTS WHO HEAT THEIR HOMES WITH THOSE COMMODITIES. THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO INCOME QUALIFIED PERSONS WHO RESIDE IN PLACER AND NEVADA COUNTIES.IN 2022, PGI STAFF PROVIDED UA TO OVER 3,028 LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, SENIORS AND FAMILIES, BRINGING OUR TWELVE-YEAR TOTAL TO OVER 37,000 CLIENTS ASSISTED. THE UA PROGRAM HELPS TO DEFRAY THE HIGH COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH HEATING AND COOLING RESIDENCES AND TO AVOID THE DISRUPTION OF HEATING/COOLING SERVICE IN THE MOST CRITICAL TIMES OF THE SEASONS. UA BENEFITS RANGE FROM $350. - $656. DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND INCOME LEVEL OF THE HOUSEHOLD. A MAXIMUM BENEFIT (INCLUDING A SUPPLEMENT) CAN BE AS HIGH AS $1,000. IT IS TO BE NOTED THAT 79% OF THE CLIENTELE THAT WE SERVED IN 2022 WERE IDENTIFIED AS VULNERABLE POPULATIONS (I.E., ELDERLY, HANDICAPPED, CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5). THIS SHOWS THAT OUR FUNDING IS GOING WHERE IT TRULY MATTERS!BEGINNING IN JUNE 2022, THROUGH THE LOW-INCOME HOME WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHWAP), PGI STAFF PROVIDED PAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO 145 LOW-INCOME CLIENTS IN PLACER, NEVADA, SIERRA AND PLUMAS COUNTIES, WHICH GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE OURSELVES TO THE VARIOUS WATER PROVIDERS IN THESE COUNTIES. THE LIHWAP PROGRAM WAS DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER DUE TO SOME OF THE FEDERAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS, BUT PGI STAFF DID OUR BEST TO GET THE WORD OUT, COLLABORATE WITH THE WATER AGENCIES, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AS WE COULD. THE PROGRAM WAS INITIALLY LIMITED TO DELINQUENT BALANCES ONLY, WHICH IS PROBLEMATIC IN OUR COUNTIES BECAUSE OF THE POLICY TO TRANSFER PAST DUE WATER/SEWER BALANCES TO TAX BILLS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. AFTER MUCH LOBBYING OF CSD, BEGINNING IN JANUARY 2023, WE WERE ABLE TO CONVINCE THOSE POWERS THAT BE TO ADOPT A FEDERAL POLICY THAT ALLOWED US TO PAY CURRENT BILLS, WHICH OPENED THE DOORS FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED SOME HELP, BUT DID NOT HAVE DELINQUENCIES TO PAY. THERE ARE MANY MORE BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF THIS PROGRAM, SUCH AS A HORRENDOUS PAPERWORK PROCESS REQUIRED FOR SERVING CLIENTS WITH WATER/SEWER INCLUDED IN THEIR RENT, AND THE PROHIBITION FOR SERVING CLIENTS WITH WELL-WATER, SO THE PROGRAM WAS DIFFICULT TO ADMINISTER DUE TO THESE ISSUES IN OUR AREAS. BUT THE GO TEAM WILL CONTINUE TO PERSIST, AND DO OUR VERY BEST TO GET THE WORD OUT AND ASSIST OUR LOW-INCOME CUSTOMERS WITH THEIR WATER/SEWER BILLS. THE LIHWAP PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO MARCH 2024.IMPROVE HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION:PGI WEATHERIZATION SERVICES PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN HELPING OUR LOW-INCOME CLIENTS TO REDUCE THEIR ENERGY BURDEN. THE STAFF OF OUR ENERGY PROGRAM WORK YEAR-ROUND TO INSULATE ATTICS AND DOORS, REPLACE OLD WINDOWS, HEATERS, WATER HEATERS REFRIGERATORS AND OTHER APPLIANCES, AND INSTALL OTHER CONSERVATION MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT HOMES STAY ENERGY EFFICIENT AND ENERGY AFFORDABLE. THE INSTALLATION OF THESE MEASURES HAD MULTIPLE IMPACTS, INCLUDING THE REDUCTION OF HEATING/COOLING COSTS, A SAFER AND MORE COMFORTABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT, AND A REDUCTION IN THE NATURAL RESOURCES WASTED. PGI STAFF HAVE ESTIMATED THAT WE HAVE INSTALLED ENERGY SAVING MEASURES ON THE RESIDENCES OF OVER 42,200 LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF PLACER AND NEVADA COUNTY SINCE OUR INCEPTION.IN ADDITION TO INSTALLING ATTIC AND FLOOR INSULATION AND VENTING, OUR WEATHERIZATION CREWS INSTALL: DOOR WEATHERSTRIPPING, NEW DOORS, NEW WINDOWS, CAULKING, LOW-FLOW WATER DEVICES, ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING, CEILING FANS, MECHANICAL VENTILATION, STORM WINDOWS, AND WE HAVE REPLACED DEFECTIVE , OBSOLETE, INEFFICIENT, DANGEROUS APPLIANCES. IN THE PAST ELEVEN YEARS, OUR WEATHERIZATION CREWS HAVE REPAIRED, REPLACED AND RECYCLED (ENVIRONMENTALLY CORRECT DISPOSAL) OVER: 1,300 REFRIGERATORS, OVER 1,100 COMBUSTION APPLIANCES (HVAC, WATER HEATERS, ETC.),330 WASHING MACHINES AND 240 COOK STOVES. THESE DANGEROUS APPLIANCES COULD POTENTIALLY CREATE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROBLEMS FOR OUR CLIENTS. SOME WERE DISCHARGING HARMFUL CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING THE RESIDENTS, WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES HAD THEY NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE DEMAND FOR APPLIANCE REPLACEMENT HAS GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY EACH YEAR AS THE HOUSING STOCK THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE OF LESS INCOME TENDS TO BE VERY OLD AND OBSOLETE AND SOMETIMES DANGEROUS.

EMPOWER PEOPLE AT RISK AND IN POVERTY TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT:PGI WAS DESIGNATED AS THE PLACER COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY (CAA) IN 2013, WHICH PROVIDED A GUARANTEED ALLOCATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) FUNDING. THE PLACER COUNTY CAA WAS PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE PLACER COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPT. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, BUT THE COUNTY RELINQUISHED THEIR DESIGNATION, GIVING PGI THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL. THE INTENT OF THE CSBG PROGRAM IS TO HELP THE EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME POPULATION TO REACH SELF-SUFFICIENCY. PREVIOUSLY, PLACER COUNTY PASSED-THROUGH A PORTION OF THE CSBG FUNDING TO THE NON-PROFIT NETWORK IN PLACER COUNTY, AND THOSE AGENCIES PROVIDED THE SERVICES DIRECTLY. PGI AGREED TO CONTINUE UTILIZING THAT PASS-THROUGH PROCESS FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF THE TRANSITION, AND IT HAS WORKED VERY WELL, SO WE HAVE CONTINUED IN THAT VEIN EVER SINCE, UTILIZING A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL PROCESS.THE ALLOCATION OF CSBG FUNDING, AND THE DESIGNATION AS THE CAA, COMES WITH A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITIES FOR MAKING DETERMINATIONS AS TO THE NEEDS OF THE LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS OF PLACER COUNTY. PGI IS REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC NEEDS ASSESSMENT EVERY TWO YEARS, FOR WHICH WE REQUEST INPUT AND FEEDBACK FROM THE RESIDENTS OF PLACER COUNTY. ONCE THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETED, PGI IS REQUIRED TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN (CAP), WHICH BECOMES THE ROADMAP TO DIRECT THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CSBG FUNDING IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO SATISFY THOSE NEEDS. THE LAST NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND CAP WERE COMPLETED IN 2021, AND THE TOP NEEDS INCLUDED (NOT IN ANY ORDER): LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LACK OF AFFORDABLE/ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION, FOOD INSECURITY, HOMELESS ASSISTANCE, SENIOR SERVICES, CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, JOBS AND JOB TRAINING, ACCESS TO SERVICES IN REMOTE AREAS, AND SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL. ONCE THE CNA HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND CIRCULATED, PGI SOLICITS PROPOSALS FROM THE NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT ARE IN SYNC WITH THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT. IN 2021-22, PGI FUNDED THE FOLLOWING NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS:CHILD ADVOCATES OF PLACER COUNTY YOUTH & FAMILY MENTOR PROGRAM (PROSPER PLACER PROGRAM)SIERRA COMMUNITY HOUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE/FOOD BANK/COUNSELING CENTERVOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA SECOND CHANCE HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES (ROSEVILLE HOME START)AUBURN INTERFAITH FOOD CLOSET SENIOR MEAL DELIVERY IN OUTLYING AREAS OF PLACER COUNTYSIERRA SENIOR SERVICES SENIOR MEAL DELIVERY & HEALTH & SAFETY CHECKS IN TAHOE AREACOMBINING PGI PROGRAMS AND THE PROGRAMS OFFERED BY OUR NON-PROFIT PARTNERS, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO OVER 3,600 LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS; OVER 63,000 MEALS WERE PROVIDED TO HOME-BOUND SENIORS; OVER 320 SENIORS AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS MAINTAINED AN INDEPENDENT LIVING SITUATION; OVER 400 FAMILIES MAINTAINED SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING; AND OVER 30,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE DONATED.

DEVELOP, BUILD AND MANAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING:PROJECT GO, INC. (PGI) BEGAN OUR FORAY INTO THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT REALM IN 1990, AND WE FULFILLED THE MANAGING GENERAL PARTNER (MGP) ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OVER A DOZEN APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, COMPRISED OF OVER 1,100 APARTMENT UNITS BETWEEN 1990-2005. ULTIMATELY, WE SOLD OUR MGP HOLDINGS IN ALL BUT FIVE OF THE APARTMENT COMMUNITIES, WHICH WE NOW SOLELY OWN, MANAGE, AND OPERATE, HOUSING APPROXIMATELY 550 LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND FAMILIES.PGIS HOUSING MISSION TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE THAN A ROOF SERVICES, CONTINUES TO BE THE GUIDEPOST FOR OUR EFFORTS AND WE ARE PLEASED THAT OUR ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE REACHED BEYOND OUR GOALS. IN 2022, WE CONTINUED TO FUND OUR RESIDENT SERVICES COORDINATOR (RSC) POSITION. OUR RSC ASSISTED OUR TENANTS WITH ACCESSING FRESH PRODUCE AND FOOD FROM THE PLACER AND ELDORADO COUNTY FOOD BANKS EACH AND EVERY MONTH. SHE ALSO PARTICIPATED AS THE LIAISON BETWEEN THE HEALTH EDUCATION COUNCIL AND OUR TENANTS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF RESTAURANT PREPARED MEALS. THIS INITIATIVE ASSISTED OUR RESIDENTS TO ASSURE THAT THEY RECEIVED PROPER NUTRITIOUS MEALS.OUR RSC ALSO COORDINATED THE DISTRIBUTION OF 228 HOME DELIVERED MEALS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON TO ASSURE THAT EACH OF OUR SENIOR RESIDENTS RECEIVED A NUTRITIOUS HOLIDAY MEAL.OUR RSC WORKED TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO GROW FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, AS WELL AS TO PARTICIPATE WITH OTHER RESIDENTS AS THEY WORK IN THE GARDEN BOXES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH A VARIETY OF OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS OVER THE YEARS.UTILIZING CSBG FUNDING AND OTHER RESOURCES, OUR RSC DISTRIBUTED FUNDS TO OUR FAMILIES AND SENIOR TENANTS TO ASSIST THEM WITH DELINQUENT RENT. THE PGI RESIDENT SERVICES COORDINATOR ALSO COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC AGENCIES TO ASSIST HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO OBTAIN AND SUSTAIN HOUSING WITH INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, REFERRALS TO COUNSELING, PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, CHILD CARE, AND MONEY MANAGEMENT TRAINING TO ASSURE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION FOR OUR MUTUAL LOW-INCOME CLIENTS.IN ADDITION, OUR RSC WORKED WITH TENANTS TO FIND RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR DAILY LIVES, SUCH AS: APPLYING FOR SSI, CAL-FRESH, CAL-WORKS, SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDI-CARE & MEDI-CAL; WORKING WITH LOCAL CHURCHES AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO AVOID TENANT EVICTIONS DUE TO DELINQUENT RENT AND UTILITIES; WORKING WITH OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO SHELTER HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS AND PROCURING SUBSIDIES TO ASSIST WITH SECURITY DEPOSITS AND MONTHLY RENT; AND ANY OTHER PROGRAMS AND/OR SERVICES THAT WERE NEEDED BY OUR RESIDENTS.WE ESTIMATE THAT WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY HOUSED OVER 14,479 INDIVIDUALS SINCE 1998 IN THE APARTMENT COMMUNITIES THAT WE OWN, AND WE COMPLETED 2022 WITH AN AVERAGE OCCUPANCY OF 98.5% DUE TO THE HARD WORK AND EFFORTS OF OUR HOUSING PROGRAM STAFF, AND PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE VALUE THAT PGI PROPERTIES HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY.WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO CREATING AND MAINTAINING DECENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS AND SENIORS, WHICH WILL IN TURN HELP TO CREATE SAFE, SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN LEARN AND GROW, OUR ELDER POPULATION CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE, OUR HOMELESS HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE IN LIFE, OUR UNEMPLOYED CAN FIND WORK, AND OUR VETERANS CAN REJOIN THE SOCIETY THEY FOUGHT TO UPHOLD MORE THAN A ROOF.