Dec. 14, 2021
Mecklenburg’s Ginny Harper collaborated with three others to shine a light on a number of programs available to low-income households with varying levels of income. Beyond explaining their programs, the four made a pitch for partnering with other groups in an effort to make contact with the people who these mostly federally supported programs are aimed at assisting.
One reason for the pitch: In a recent period, Mecklenburg sent back to one or anothere funding agency a total of $1 million, Harper said, that could and should have gone to help Mecklenburg residents. But not enough people had applied.
The precise reasons that that scandal in plain sight has been allowed to occur were not clear today. More than likely, there are an enormous number of factors. Hesitancy to apply during COVID. Eligible residents being utterly unaware of the programs. Skimpy staffing for promoting the programs. Peeling down the onion even further, one might find that one or anotheer silo in this community knows exactly how to reach people who would fall within any one program’s eligibility rules. But silos don’t talk to one another, do they?
The time for this presentation was less than an hour, and a tremendous amount of information was relayed. But for prospective recipients (or their advocates) who might learn something here, the information here will be only the beginning of a journey.
Likewise with the community’s leaders interested in better governance, more efficient assistance programs, and serving real people in need: Sorting out how to speed assistance to eligible residents will not be easy. It won’t garner many thank-yous. Is it worth doing?
Copies of slides shown during the presentation are below the video. The slides may be downloaded as a PDF here.
Also below is a flier for the Jan. 10-14 weatherization program sign-up opportunity discussed today.
In today’s chat box, presenters left their contact e-mails and a few more comment are below:
- Liz Ojeda: [email protected]
- Ginny Harper: [email protected]
- Jennifer Rupp: [email protected]
- Tara Vannoy,n Blue Ridge Community Action Weatherization Program 828-438-6255 ext.1531 www.brcainc.org/weatherization [email protected]
From Nancy Carter:
Great information!!! Hope you are involved with Steve Rundle with NAACP. He is the lead in the work force development that the volunteer SEAP group is working on. email: [email protected]
From Tara Vannoy:
Blue Ridge Community Action’s Weatherization Program services 8 counties: Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Stanly and Union.
