From the Director

Community Caring Council Empowering families to become self-reliant, resourceful & responsible. The Community Plan

January 2008
Happy New Year! We start the year off in full swing and at our maximum capacity for juggling staff time and resources between the multitude of programs and initiatives with which we are involved.

The THRIVE Initiative is taking on a very active life form right now, as is the LIFE Initiative. Both have lots of enthusiastic staff and committee members supporting them. Many strategies for expanded community awareness are being developed for both.

The Missouri Housing Trust Fund grant this [past year allowed us to help 208 families with rental deposits, which is a wonderful resource for people to have available when trying to secure safe and affordable housing. Unfortunately our new grant that begins in April will only be for 60% of what we did have, so there will be many unfilled requests. Roy is working diligently with others from around the state to influence legislation that will increase the fees on real estate transaction, which is the source of dollars for Trust Fund grants. The amount per transaction, $3, has not been increased since it began ten years ago.

Our new HUD application for the next 2-year period has been approved which will allow Natalie and Roy to continue providing permanent housing and supportive services to approximately 30 families and individuals.

We have a new Missouri Foundation for Health Grant referred to as HINTS: healthcare in non-traditional settings. This is a partnership between the Cape County Health Department, the Cape Area Family Resource Center, and the Council, to provide screenings, follow-up referral, and transportation for treatments needs for folks in South Cape. Most of these will be done at the resource center, and will combine resources from County health, Southeast Hospital, and Cross Trails Medical Center for various health and wellness issues.

Kay and other staff have completed a United Way grant application package for 7 programs totaling more than $70,000. We expect the review folks to look favorably upon out requests because they are solid proposals with very good outcomes and very little cost. We will know sometime in May.

As always we appreciate the time and support of our Board of Directors, our community partners, and especially meaningful to me is the dedication and professionalism of our staff. It makes me humble to be a part of this great organization.

Again, Happy New Year to you and yours.

Tom Davisson
Executive Director