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NMCAA Update 4-6-2020

Senior Nutrition – Meals on Wheels

Questions call Lisa Robitshek (231) 947-3780

  • NMCAA Meals on Wheels serves Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee and Wexford Counties.
  • Congregate meals are suspended until further notice. If someone from a congregate site needs meals, we will work them into our delivery routes for frozen meals. Where feasible, curbside pickup may be implemented.
  • The Meals on Wheels program will deliver frozen meals starting on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 until further notice. We will also be conducting friendly assurance/safety checks during the week.
  • 4,450 meals served to 733 clients during the period March 30 - April 3, 2020.

Food Distribution Programs

Questions call Mark Hamacher (231) 775-8330

  • Food Distribution Programs cover Antrim, Benzie, Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Missaukee, Roscommon, and Wexford counties
  • The Commodity Supplemental Food Programs (CSFP) provides monthly food packages to those over 60 years of age and meet income criteria. CSFP will be completing their normal distributions in April 2020. Customers will remain in their cars and staff and volunteers will load the food in vehicles.

April (1 & 2) distributions for CSFP: Charlevoix County – 110 clients served

Northern Antrim County – 70 clients served

  • The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) provides food at quarterly distributions to eligible households. March distributions will be complete on March 26, 2020. The next distribution is scheduled for June 2020. At this time all customers will remain in their cars and staff and volunteers will load the food in vehicles.

TEFAP staff are working with local pantries to distribute remaining food from our March distribution.

Please see the distribution schedules attached for CSFP and TEFAP.

Early Childhood Programs

  • In an effort to reduce the spread of the COVID 19 virus, and in alignment with the Governor's announcement made Thursday, April 2, 2020, NMCAA traditional year preschool classrooms will transition to virtual and other non-face-to-face service delivery methods for the remainder of the program year.
  • In addition, NMCAA home visiting programs and year-round classrooms will also continue services in the above-mentioned manner until the shelter in place and essential worker mandates are lifted and processes necessary for resuming typical service delivery have occurred.

Current methods of engaging with children and family include, but are not limited to:

  • Weekly phone calls or texts to families to discuss general well-being, resource needs, and child development
  • Sharing of videos with families (teachers singing classroom songs or reading books)
  • Closed Facebook classroom groups where teachers, children, and parents can connect with one another
  • Family mailings, which may include items such as cards with positive thoughts/messages or activity calendars
  • Virtual lessons with at home activities such as scavenger hunts, shape construction, etc.
  • Sharing of self-care activities and a variety of community resources

We will continue to adapt service delivery according to the needs of our enrolled families and the community.

Community Services

Homeless Prevention

  • Please continue to call the (844) 900-0500 number if you are experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis.
  • Even though walk-in services at our three office locations have been suspended, all Homeless Prevention services offered through NMCAA remain open at this time.
  • The Centralized Intake Call Center is running as normal with Goodwill Inn providing after-hours and weekend support. In addition, we have street outreach coverage throughout the 10-county service area.
    • Prevention clients will be screened via phone and have been asked to submit documentation electronically when able (this has not been an issue).
  • NMCAA continues to provide case management for current clients via phone, text or email and to house clients in this new environment.
  • Each client and landlord have been informed we are still able to work remotely, and all rental checks are to go out as usual for the month of April.
  • We are incorporating new/temporary approved procedures for virtual signatures, virtual home inspections, etc. and continue to house clients in this new environment.

Financial Management Services 

Homeownership and Financial Empowerment Center

  • NMCAA has suspended all in-person Homeownership and Money Management workshops and individual appointments. This includes Homebuyer Education, financial workshops, and individual budgeting, pre-purchase, rental, fair housing, Individual Development Account, Family Self-Sufficiency, Foreclosure, Bankruptcy and Debtor education in-person appointments
  • As an alternative, we currently offer an on-line self-paced Homebuyer Education and Money Management class that can be accessed at: https://www.ehomeamerica.org/nmcaa
  • Budget Housing Coaches will be providing virtual workshops and virtual or telephonic individual case management appointments. New customers can contact us about how to budget and get through this time by contacting Allie Popa at (231) 346-2141 or by email at apopa@nmcaa.net.

Tax Preparation

  • All face-to-face Tax Preparation appointments have been suspended until April 13, 2020 or until further notice. Please call for virtual and online tax preparation options. Note: IRS has extended filing season to July 15, 2020. As always

 www.myfreetaxes.com is an option.

Weatherization 

  • Face-to-face interactions with all in-progress Weatherization clients have been suspended until further notice. This includes Energy Audits, all contractor installations, and final Quality Control Inspections. However, all health and safety issues will be handled on a case by case basis. Please continue to have customers call the NMCAA Weatherization program and leave us a message. All calls will be returned.
  • In-progress clients receive regular contacts to assure them that work will be completed as soon as we are able and provides an opportunity to check in on other needs, including mental health needs. Mailings are being sent to Weatherization clients with information to support emotional well-being as many live alone and/or are experiencing heightened depression and anxiety.

Housing

  • Intake for emergency repairs will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Program protocols allow for applicants to send pictures of repairs needed and on-site inspections can be completed when absolutely necessary using Personal Protective Equipment and client screening questions.

NMCAA has a need, like so many others, for Personal Protective Equipment for staff and volunteers providing essential services.

 

*As of March 19, 2020, all NMCAA offices will be closed to the public. Customers can reach us by phone or email. Messages will be returned within 24 hours*

Please check our website at www.nmcaa.net for updates and reach out if we can be of assistance to you or your customers during this difficult time.

 

Kerry Baughman Executive Director

Northwest Michigan Community Action Agency Office (231) 346-2161

Cell (231) 632-0786

This page last updated on 4/20/2020.