Welcome
Getting through these last couple of years has been a bit like visiting an amusement park. For many, what was supposed to be a good time turned out to be a terror as they saw their life savings and investments evaporate, and their homes lost to foreclosure. This left many seeking help from CAC for the first time in their lives. For them, wading through an unfamiliar system of supports was discouraging and difficult.
For
most of the people we work with, however, not much has changed. They
don’t have retirement accounts or investments. They still are
looking for work, or better paying work, competing now against even more
applicants than usual. Their housing situation is still precarious
at times, with more people facing eviction. Families are still living
in their cars, often with children in tow. Food pantry usage continues
to climb.
Not all is gloom and doom, however. Along the way, several bright lights have come on. A wonderful partnership with the Madison Community Foundation has enabled us to expand pantry and community gardens throughout Dane County. This brings more fresh produce into the pantries, and by extension, into people’s homes. This food is grown locally, and eaten locally. And children, especially, had more fresh food.
CAC was also able to invest American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
funds in ways that created jobs, helped stabilize housing, provided training
and education for unemployed workers, helped with utility payments, provided
small business grants, and helped fill other gaps in the thin safety net
of our communities. These funds run through 2010 and beyond
in some cases. We have been grateful stewards for those funds, and
will do our part to keep our communities on the road to recovery. We
could not do what we do without our community partners like you. Thank
you for stepping up during these challenging times and we are confident
you will continue to make a difference in the lives of people affected
by poverty.
Greta C. Hansen
Executive Director
Community Action Coalition
for South Central WI, Inc.