West CAP’s annual report continues to show largest economic impact

By Kelsie Hoitomt

GLENWOOD CITY – West CAP, which serves Barron, Dunn, Chippewa, Pepin, Pierce, Polk and St. Croix Counties recently released its annual report for the 2012 fiscal year. The numbers show that last year, West CAP served 7,965 households and provided an $8,959,729 economic impact.

West CAP provides several programs to low-income families and their communities including weatherization, homeless prevention, community housing development, jumpstart/ideal auto, food access and resources, literacy and skills enhancement and community initiatives.

In 2012, 523 households were served with Weatherization, which to name a few includes services such as insulation, minor repairs, providing efficient utilities and repairing or replacing of furnaces. Those households served created the largest economic impact of $3,951,548.

445 households were served through the Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). With the help of private for-profit and non-profit groups, West CAP was able to remodel old historical building in Boyceville and turn it into apartments and a food pantry.

The Housing Assistance program served 485 households by helping and providing low-income families with a continuum of housing options from transitional housing for persons experiencing homelessness to homeowner services.

36 households have been helped through the JumpStart Program, which provides low-income families with assistance in the preparation and purchase of a quality, fuel-efficient vehicle.

45 households were provided with adult education through the Literacy and Skills Enhancement Program.

The Community Initiatives Program provided 388 households with services through the Holiday Gift Drive and the Back-to-School Supply Program.

The gift drive provides help with gift giving to income eligible families in Boyceville, Glenwood City and Spring Valley school districts.

The supply program helps children in Dunn County and in the Glenwood City school district with supplies for Pre-K to 12th grade. Also for the past two years, Leissa’s Hair Studio and Day Spa has donated an entire day to giving haircuts to children so they can go back to school with a great new look.

The most households served were in the Food Access and Resources Program with 6,042. This program’s purpose is to address food security in our communities by supporting a network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters that provide emergency food assistance. The program provides staff support and food distribution assistance to 25 community-based food pantries, four shelters and one soup kitchen throughout west central Wisconsin.