Community Action Partnership Of Orange County

CAPOCS MISSION IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE WITHIN ORANGE COUNTY BY ELIMINATING AND PREVENTING THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF POVERTY BY MOBILIZING AND DIRECTING RESOURCES.

OUR FOOD BANK CONDUCTS FOOD DISTRIBUTION, PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH ENROLLING CLIENTS INTO FOOD STAMPS AND PROVIDES EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE. 28,982,323 POUNDS OF FOOD WERE DISTRIBUTED IN 2023 TO LOW- INCOME FOOD INSECURE FAMILIES, CHILDREN AND SENIORS THROUGH OVER 200 CHARITIES, SHELTERS, AND FOOD PANTRIES. OUR FOOD BANK ALSO PROVIDED EMERGENCY FOOD TO 459,321 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN FROM THE TEFAP AND EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM (EFSP). FOOD BOXES WERE DIRECTLY DISTRIBUTED TO 24,808 SENIORS AGED 60 YEARS AND OVER THROUGH OUR MONTHLY COMMODITY SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD PROGRAM (CSFP) TO PREVENT HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION. OUR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) OUTREACH PROGRAM ASSISTED 1,996 LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS TO ENROLL INTO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) OBTAINING $1,758,132 IN AGGREGATED FOOD STAMP BENEFITS. PARTNERING WITH THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS (CAFB) AND NETWORK FOR A HEALTHY CALIFORNIA, THE OC FOOD BANKS FARM TO FAMILY PROGRAM PROVIDES FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO SENIORS, FAMILIES AND SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS AND SCHOOLS. MANY OF THESE FAMILIES HAVE TROUBLE AFFORDING AND PURCHASING FOOD THAT CONTAINS THE NUTRIENTS NEEDED FOR DEVELOPING CHILDREN. AS A RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM, 2,657,504 LOW-INCOME SENIORS, FAMILIES AND CHILDREN HAD INCREASED ACCESS TO FRESH AND HEALTHY PRODUCE IN 2023. ADDITIONALLY, NUTRITION AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS RESULTED IN 4,376 YOUTH HAD IMPROVED PHYSICAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IN 2023.

OUR AGENCY PROGRAM COORDINATES PROGRAMS WITH OTHER AGENCIES FOR TRANSPORTATION, COUNSELING EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, SHELTER AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. 39,311 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES THROUGH MULTIPLE AGENCY PROGRAMS.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO IMPROVE HOUSING CONDITIONS AND REDUCE ENERGY BURDENS FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. IN 2023, ENERGY AND CONSERVATIONS SERVICES ASSISTED 5,513 HOUSEHOLDS OBTAIN EMERGENCY GAS/ELECTRIC UTILITY PAYMENTS (FUNDED BY LIHEAP AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCES) TO AVERT CRISIS. WEATHERIZATION SERVICES SUCH AS HEATING AND COOLING ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS WAS PROVIDED TO 415 LOW-INCOME HOMES.

THE AGENCYS YOUTH AND FAMILIES PROGRAM DEPARTMENT (YFP) HELPS LOW- INCOME FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES THRIVE. THEY LEVERAGE OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES (BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE) TO DEVELOP AND SUSTAIN OPERATIONAL LINKAGES BETWEEN OUR CORE ANTI-POVERTY SERVICES. PARTNERS INCLUDE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, OC FOOD ACCESS COALITION; SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCY OF ORANGE COUNTY, ETC. CAP OC AND YFP ALSO WORK WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN TARGET CITIES TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. OUR TWO FACT-FUNDED FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS, ANAHEIM INDEPENDENCIA (AIFRC) AND EL MODENA FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER (EMFRC) AS WELL AS SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY CENTER (SWCC) OPERATE AFTER SCHOOL AND TEEN PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE TUTORING AND SOCIO-RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR AT- RISK YOUTH. OUR SOUTHWEST COMMUNITY CENTER (SWCC) CONTINUES TO OPERATE THE HOMELESS FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM RESULTING IN 76,911 MEALS SERVED IN 2023 (DUPLICATED COUNT). IN 2023, 128 YOUTH WERE ENROLLED IN YOUTH PROGRAMS. THE CENTERS ALSO PROVIDE JOB SKILLS TRAINING & FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES: 14 HOUSEHOLDS ACHIEVED SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING; 33 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES SAW IMPROVED FINANCIAL WELL-BEING THROUGH OUR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT SERVICES. THE 2023 TAX FILING 1,101 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE.