By Dave Snyder
The Parsons Advocate
Barbara Simmons, Community Services Supervisor for North Central Community Action
North Central Community Action is an agency with offices in Greenbrier, Marion, Monongalia, Pocahontas, Preston, Randolph, Taylor and Tucker counties. Barbara Simmons, Community Services Supervisor for Tucker County, details the services provided by the agency.
Emergency assistance is normally available for a person once per year. This can involve utility bill assistance when a shutoff notice has been received. It also involves rent payments when rent is thirty days past due.
Case management is one option for individuals with the desire and/or potential to transition out of poverty or into greater financial stability. Simmons can help people who meet the requirements in several ways. Job searches can be aided through the help with resume preparation. Help purchasing work equipment, such as uniforms and boots, can be provided. Individuals who are already working may receive aid with light car repairs.
Through the United States Department of Energy a weatherization program is available to people who meet income requirements. Home insulation, air sealing and heating system checks are available through the Barbour County Office.
Simmons said “Through the Veterans Administration we have the Supportive Services for Veteran Families. Homeless veterans can receive help finding housing and with rental payments. Help finding employment is also available in order to get them stabilized.” In addition, help with case management, obtaining VA benefits and transportation to and from veterans’ clinics is available.
Early Head Start is a home visiting program for pregnant women, families, and children under three years old. This program is comprehensive educational, social and health services coupled with parent involvement. The Early Head Start program is taking applications for children and for an appointment call 304-478-3536.
Each year, Simmons and Amy Owens, Community Services Assistant, participate in income tax preparation at the Taylor County Office. This enables them, through the VITA program, to provide free income tax preparation services.
In addition to year around services, Community Action provides some seasonal services. In the Spring, forty dollar vouchers are given for the purchase of seeds and plants.
Christmas time is a special time, especially for children. Community Action provides names for the Sheetz Family Christmas project. Sheetz then purchases gifts for sixteen children. Community Action also works with the Salvation Army and the State Police to provide gifts for children. Through this program, items are dropped off at the Parsons State Police detachment. Community Action then distributes the gifts.
Obviously, money for these programs must come from somewhere. State and Federal block grants provide some financing. The Tucker County Community Foundation, Parsons Ministerial Association, Blackwater Ministerial Association and local churches provide the rest of the funding.
Simmons says, “Each year we provide a report that shows the outcomes of our services. Federal and State funding is provided based on this report. Funding from the federal and state government is never a sure thing. Neither is funding from other sources. Therefore, our budget changes each year according to the dollars that are allotted.”
If you need help, you may be able to obtain help through Community Action. Obviously, winter and early spring are the times of greatest need for families due to utility bills and rental expense. In 2016, one hundred sixty families were helped with utility bills and four families were helped with rental expense.
One other service provided by Community Action is management of the Jameson Street and Pineview apartments in Parsons and Mountain View apartments in Hambleton. Applications are now being received for these low- income housing units.
The office is located at 513 Central Avenue.
