ARRA Information - CSGB, HPRP, TEFAP, EFSP

2009-2010 CSGB ARRA Programs (Stimulus Funds)

In 2009, CAC was awarded over $1.3 million in Community Services Block Grant American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (CSBG-ARRA) funds.  CAC used these one-time federal stimulus dollars to create and retain jobs, stimulate economic recovery, and address local needs in the 3 counties CAC serves. Thirty-six jobs were created with CSBG-ARRA funds, and 2 jobs were retained. CAC also utilized CSBG-ARRA funds to provide assistance to over 6,000 individuals and to support programs that helped 35 participants secure employment.

Eight new CAC programs were developed and implemented with CSBG-ARRA funding.  Highlights of these programs include the following: 

  • Back to Work: Forty-two adults and their 49 children received benefits from the Back to Work Program.  CAC provided employment assistance, including job skills training, rent subsidies, and other employment supports, to unemployed and underemployed individuals in Dane and Jefferson Counties.  To date 19 Back to Work participants have secured employment as a result of the program.  
  • Employment and Benefits: CAC helped 55 individuals in Dane and Jefferson Counties obtain a wide variety of benefits.  Four Employment and Benefits participants received SSI benefits, 11 people obtained eyeglasses, and 8 obtained phone service.  This program also helped individuals secure temporary and permanent housing, receive unemployment benefits, and get substance abuse treatment.
  • Emergency Assistance: The CSBG-ARRA Emergency Assistance Program provided the following assistance in 2009 and the first half of 2010:
    • 1,423 individuals received Utility Assistance in Dane County.
    • 84 individuals received Moving Assistance in Dane County.
    • 111 individuals in Dane County received household items that could not be purchased with Food Share benefits.
    • 8 senior centers in Dane County received grants to purchase recreational equipment to encourage physical activity by senior citizens.
    • 512 individuals received Utility Assistance in Jefferson County. 
    • 263 individuals in Jefferson County received emergency shelter in motels.
    • 100 individuals received assistance with emergency car repairs in Jefferson County. 
    • 689 individuals received Utility Assistance in Waukesha County.
    • 211 individuals in Waukesha County received assistance with emergency car repairs.
  • Telephone and Telecommunications Assistance: In 2010, 509 individuals received assistance from the CSBG-ARRA Telephone and Telecommunications Assistance Program.  This program helped residents of Dane and Jefferson Counties establish or maintain land-line telephone, cell phone or Internet service and provided one-on-one budget counseling to participants.
  • Small Business Development Grants: CAC awarded $5,000 grants to 14 small business owners in Dane and Jefferson Counties in 2010 to assist them in establishing or enhancing their businesses.
  • Get Out Stay Out:  CAC provided extensive reentry services, including AODA group meetings and anger management sessions, to 69 Jefferson County Jail inmates.
  • Clothes for Work:  CAC provided work boots and clothes to 24 individuals in 2010.
  • Community Organizing: CAC worked closely with the Waukesha County Affordable Housing Task Force, many nonprofit organizations, and the faith community to support affordable housing in Waukesha County.  Efforts focused on establishing a Housing Trust Fund, reforming local zoning regulations, and organizing support for low-income housing developments in Waukesha County. 

CAC also partnered with 7 agencies to address important needs in communities throughout the three counties we serve.

  • The Women’s Center: CAC used CSBG - ARRA funds to partner with Sister House, The Women’s Center emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence, to provide emergency shelter, food, clothing, and other basic necessities to 113 women and children in Waukesha County. 
  • Hebron House: In the winter of 2009-2010, 168 homeless men received temporary shelter, food, and clothing at the Drop In Shelter Overflow Site in Waukesha, which was operated by Hebron House and funded by CSGB - ARRA funds through CACSCW.
  • Sussex SOS: CHANCES, a program of Sussex-area Outreach Services (SOS), provided rent subsidies to 46 individuals and utility assistance to 38 participants in 2010, with CSBG-ARRA funding through CACSCW.
  • Food Pantry of Waukesha County: CACSCW collaborated with the Food Pantry of Waukesha County to provide emergency food to approximately 1,000 people in Waukesha County using CSGB - ARRA funds.
  • St. Vincent de Paul (Dane County): The District Council of Madison, Inc. St. Vincent de Paul provided prescription medication assistance to 333 individuals in 2009 and 2010. Thanks to CSGB - ARRA.
  • St. Vincent de Paul (Fort Atkinson): The prescription medication assistance program of St. Vincent de Paul of Fort Atkinson, which was also funded by CSBG-ARRA, helped 48 individuals in Jefferson County in 2010.
  • Common Wealth Development: CAC partnered with Common Wealth Development to support Pre-Employment Skills and Agricultural Training (PEAT) for ten Dane County youth in 2009 and ten more in 2010. 

Other ARRA Programs

Community Services Block Grant ARRA funds offered great flexibility in programming but they were by no means the only resource to help people.  The Emergency Food Assistance Program, TEFAP, provided $39,772 in 2009, and even more in 2010.  This provided extra capacity for transportation and storage of commodities.

A special federally funded homeless prevention program was also rolled out during 2009 and will continue into 2010-2011.  Called Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP) funds for Madison, Dane and Jefferson Counties, CAC has served as the lead agency, partnering with several other organizations to help keep people in their housing through rent subsidies, eviction prevention assistance and other services.   A total of $1,344,226 has been contracted to help Dane and Jefferson County households during the recession.  Much of these funds have been spent or obligated at this time, reminding everyone how badly needed these supports are to families.

Finally, Emergency Food and Shelter Program, (EFSP) used ARRA funds for food and housing in Dane and Jefferson Counties. $26,591 was spent to keep people in housing, shelter, or to provided needed food.

These extra dollars have been a blessing, meaning the difference between housing and homelessness, hunger and decent nutrition, job training and more.  While there have been critics of the Stimulus Programs, CAC is proud of what we have accomplished with these dollars, confident we have made a difference in thousands of peoples lives.