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Family Services Director Pat Burke presents Tonia White with a customized photo book to commemorate her retirement.
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Tonia White probably had no idea what she was getting into when she took a job as an assistant clerk in SEVCA's Weatherization department in 1988, just five years after graduating from Bellows Falls High School. She learned quickly, and initially supported a number of SEVCA initiatives, including the Medical Transportation program, the food shelf in Bellows Falls (which later became "Our Place"), and the USDA Food Distribution program. In 1990, she was appointed store manager for the Bellows Falls Thrift Store, and by the time she retired from SEVCA, she had helped develop a number of "Good Buy" Thrift Stores throughout our service area. She became a District Manager for the Springfield and Bellows Falls stores in 2003, and eventually became the Director for the Thrift Stores and Textile Recycling Program in 2009, serving in that role until her retirement.
"We became our own nonprofit 'chain' of stores," Tonia recalls. "This gave us a presence in the community; we were like a billboard for SEVCA. We also served as 'mini- outreach workers' because we identified a lot of people in need and we were able to refer them to other SEVCA services."
Tonia remembers the big difference it made when the original Rainbow Thrift Store was relocated from an office space on "the Island" to downtown Bellows Falls in 1990. Revenue increased from about $3,000/year to $30,000 in its first year there. The store had more room than its previous location and a lot more foot traffic; in addition, Tonia began pricing each item, rather than continuing the "dollar per bag" sales at the previous location. She also remembers the big successes of the next store SEVCA opened at the Recycling Center in Hartford in 1993. She began spending half her time in Bellows Falls and the other half at the new Hartford store. "The store was booming," she recalls. "Everybody had to come there to do their recycling, because there was no curbside pick-up." Tonia continued to fill a variety of roles within the program no matter what her job title; even filling in as a forklift operator for the Textile Recycling program on occasion!
Reflecting on her time at SEVCA, Tonia is proud of what she's accomplished. "I feel blessed by having been able to truly make a difference for people in my community," she says. "I always had a caring heart, and the work I did at the Thrift Stores was an outpouring of myself, my way of giving back."
Retiring was the last thing on her mind when, in late 2015, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The treatment she had to undergo in the months following her diagnosis made it impossible for her to continue her duties; and by the time it was over, she realized she still had a lot of healing to do. Deciding not to go back to work was one of the most difficult decisions she had ever had to make. She says she wanted to let everyone who supported her during her crisis to know how much their support meant to her. She's read and re-read every card and letter she's received, and "it helped me get through a lot. I want to let everyone know that I'm going to come out on top, I will be a survivor."
Her retirement party in February was a touching celebration of Tonia's longstanding contribution to SEVCA's mission. She was presented with a booklet containing photos and reflections from the many lives she touched during her 27 years of service, as well as a framed newspaper article that was published for SEVCA's 50th Anniversary in 2015, which included a whole section with quotes from Tonia, since "I was like the organization's historian," she said.
"I hope I'll be able to go back and work with people again," Tonia says. "But for now, I need to focus on healing."
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SEVCA's Economic Development department recently received a $10,000 grant award from the Women's Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation and a $5,000 award from the People's United Community Foundation.
The $10,000 award from the Women's Fund will enable SEVCA to bring its 'Ready for Work' program to low-income youth attending Youth Services programs in Brattleboro. The six-week job readiness course will help
young women with limited income, little or no work history, and barriers to entering the workforce obtain core workplace skills, find available jobs, present themselves professionally to employers, and identify further training and educational opportunities to advance their careers. At least 32 youth are expected to participate in the program, with the first class to be scheduled this Spring.
The $5,000 award from the People's United Community Foundation will support SEVCA's Financial Fitness and IDA programs, which provide participants with the knowledge and support they need to take control of their finances, begin a savings plan, and eventually build assets. SEVCA aims to provide financial education to about 100 low- and moderate-income individuals over the coming year.
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SEVCA will be holding a public election during the week of April 3rd to elect a 'Client Representative' to its Board from the Brattleboro area. SEVCA needs representatives of low-income residents in its service area to ensure that there are Board members who can speak on their behalf about what people need to cope with financial hardship and become self-reliant. It's a unique opportunity for local residents to help effectively direct SEVCA's resources and services to achieve its mission to alleviate suffering and lift people out of poverty.
Tony Taylor has declared that he will be running for election to that position. Tony is a resident of Brattleboro and has lived there for 15 years with his wife and three children. He attended school in Rutland and graduated from Rutland High School in 1997. Tony has served on the Board of Directors of the Turning Point Recovery Center, which provides treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, and has also been on the receiving end of needed services. He is a former client of our Micro-Business and Matched Savings programs, which helped him start a successful cleaning business - Master Floor Technicians. Tony is interested in serving on the SEVCA Board to give back for the help he has received.
Ballots will contain a brief biography of Tony and any other announced candidates and there will also be a space for a write-in candidate on the ballot. Voting will take place at the following locations on the dates and hours listed below:
SEVCA Outreach Office, 15 Grove St., Brattleboro
April 4, 5, and 6 from 8:30 AM. to 4 PM.; April 7 from 1-4:30 PM
Windham-Windsor Housing Trust, 68 Birge St., Brattleboro
April 4, 5, 6, and 7 from 8:30 AM-4 PM
State Office Building, Economic Services, 232 Main St., 2nd Floor, Brattleboro
April 6 from 9 AM-12 PM
Westgate Apts. Community Room, 50 Westgate Drive, Brattleboro
April 4 from 1-2 PM; April 5 from 2-4 PM; April 6 from 11 AM-1 PM
Clients of SEVCA or any of the above organizations, and other low-income area residents, are invited and encouraged to vote in this election to help ensure representation of the low-income population in the Brattleboro area on the SEVCA Board. Individuals do not have to be registered voters to vote in this election. Voting can also be done by mail. To request a ballot or for more information, please call 800-464-9951, Ext. 105.
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The Trump administration released a FY18 budget proposal on March 16 that would severely cut, and even eliminate, programs desperately needed by people with low and moderate incomes, in order to fund a $54 billion increase in defense spending.
Some of the major programs targeted for
elimination include the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides fuel assistance; the Weatherization program; and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program, which funds Community Action Agencies all over the country (at SEVCA, it is used to strengthen many of our programs as well as our core infrastructure). The Department of Health and Human Services is slated for an 18% cut overall. Debilitating cuts to housing programs are also proposed, with a 13% cut to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, including elimination of Community Development Block Grants, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. Head Start, the federally-funded comprehensive early childhood development and family support program, is also targeted by the Trump administration, with a proposed 10% reduction each year for 10 years. Cuts on this order of magnitude would be nothing short of
devastating to people with low incomes. (
Click
HERE for a Washington Post analysis of the Trump budget proposal.)
The good news is that there is a great deal of support in Congress, among both Democrats and Republicans, for many of these programs. Republicans have demonstrated that they are not in agreement on key issues, especially in the face of the widespread and angry responses from voters. This was clearly demonstrated during the recent defeat of the Republican proposal in the House to repeal the Affordable Care Act and replace it with a plan that would cause 24 million people to lose their health insurance in order to fund tax cuts for the wealthy. While this may only be a temporary setback in efforts to erode coverage options for people with low and moderate incomes, it does show that advocates and ordinary citizens can have leverage with their elected representatives.
It is more important than ever to let our Congressional representatives know how their constituents feel about key budget and policy issues affecting the most vulnerable members of our communities. (Here are links to find contact details for Vermont's
Representative and
Senators.)
Here are couple of websites that have very current information on what's happening in Washington, specifically as it affects people with low incomes:
Coalition on Human Needs
: From this website, you can sign up to support the People's Budget Campaign, which advocates for a federal budget that prioritizes job creation, programs for vulnerable communities, infrastructure development, and clean air and water.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
You can find information on many policy issues related to the federal budget, along with expert analyses. Information on the Affordable Care Act and health care reform can be found HERE.
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The Vermont House just passed a FY18 budget that achieved a great deal of consensus across party lines, with no new taxes or fees on the revenue side. The budget now moves to the state Senate for consideration. Click
HERE for details.
But failing to deal with the contentious issue of raising revenue means that state programs continue to experience cuts in "real" terms, as the funds provided do not keep up with increases in costs, and some critical programs are on the chopping block. For example, a last-ditch effort by the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (VAHC) and other advocates to reinstate funding for the 'Cold Weather Exception' (CWE) for homeless families failed by voice vote on Friday. The CWE guarantees shelter for low-income, homeless Vermonters on the coldest nights of the year, by providing motel vouchers if area shelters are full. Families with children are among those that are kept off the streets in dangerously cold weather--according to information from VAHC, 1,334 children benefited from CWE in 2016, and 3,370 children benefited in 2015.
An analysis by the Public Assets Institute shows that in Vermont, state and local taxes favor the highest income households, with
the top 1% of taxpayers paying the lowest share of their income in taxes, while these households captured
over 40% of all income growth from 2009-12. Meanwhile, revenue available to the state has failed to keep up with economic growth. See graphs based on this analysis
HERE.
Click HERE for ways to contact your state senators and representatives.
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SEVCA still has a few spaces in its workshop series, "Your Money, Your Goals," to be held in Brattleboro starting April 4. This 7-part workshop series will help participants improve their relationship with money, develop strong financial habits, and take steps toward prosperity. Topics covered include: saving, spending, credit,
home buying, insurance,
purchasing a car,
and saving for college
. The instructor will review participants' credit reports and offer recommendations to build healthy credit and resolve credit issues, as well as provide individualized financial coaching to help participants and their families become more financially secure.
The workshop series is free and open to the public. Those who complete the entire course may be eligible to enrol in SEVCA's Individual Development Account (IDA) matched savings program. IDA participants earn $2 (up to $2,000) for every $1 they save (up to $1,000) if they save a minimum of $25 each month for up to two years; savings can be used to purchase a home, enroll in education or job training, or start or enhance their own business.
The course will be held at
Marlboro College, 28 Vernon St., Brattleboro from 5:30-7 p.m. on Tuesdays,
April 4 through May 23 (excludes April 18).
Pre-registration is required. Please call Susan Dillon to register at 802-722-4575, ext. 151, or email
sdillon@sevca.org
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In 2015, Vermont was one of ten states chosen by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop and test strategies for reducing dependency on the national Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Vermont's SNAP Program, called
3SquaresVT
and administered by the Department for Children and Families (DCF), was awarded a three-year $8.9 million dollar grant to develop a job readiness and training pilot program for people getting benefits.
Vermont's pilot, called
Jobs for Independence (JFI),
began accepting applications at the end of February 2016.
"The Jobs for Independence pilot will give participants the opportunity to develop skills, overcome barriers to work, and find and keep good jobs,
ʺ
said DCF Commissioner Ken Schatz. "Most importantly, it will help them to rely less on government assistance and more on their own capacities for building strong futures for themselves.
ʺ
Jobs for Independence (JFI)
can help people even if they: don't have stable housing; have a mental health issue; are struggling with substance abuse or recovery; or have a criminal record. Vermonters who get 3SquaresVT benefits may be eligible to participate. Those selected for the program could get help to:
- Resolve issues that may be keeping them from work (e.g., criminal record, mental health, substance abuse, or unstable housing)
- Find new or better jobs
- Gain work skills and knowledge
- Pay for things they need to work like car repairs and work clothes
- Earn the Governor's Career Ready Certificate at the Community College of Vermont (CCV)
- Achieve industry-recognized certification (e.g., in CDL or IT Software)
3SquaresVT participants who are interested in JFI should call SEVCA to see if they qualify. In Windham County, contact Elizabeth McEwen at 802 376-0362 or
emcewen@sevca.org
.
In Windsor County, contact Elizabeth Meuse 802 376-0361 or
emeuse@sevca.org
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Updates:
Ellen Paquette: Family Services Program Coordinator, October 2016. As one of SEVCA's longest-serving employees, Ellen is a familiar face in SEVCA's Westminster office. Ellen first joined SEVCA as an outreach worker in 1975, and was credited, with starting a food shelf in Bellows Falls, which was later transferred to Our Place Drop-In Center in the early 1990s. She left SEVCA in 1978, but returned in 1999 as a seasonal Crisis Fuel Worker, having worked for various fuel companies in the interim. Ellen became the Crisis Fuel Coordinator in 2003, and in 2012, her position expanded to a full-time, full-year position that included more general client support, including facilitation of 3SquaresVT applications, Farm-to-Family coupons, and more. Ellen's promotion to Program Coordinator in October was a recognition of the increasing responsibility she's taken on in recent years amidst challenging, complex conditions facing SEVCA's low-income clients, and, according to Family Services Director Pat Burke, an acknowledgement of her dedication, dependability, and wealth of knowledge. Congratulations, Ellen!
John Synovetz: Outreach Worker in Springfield, January 2017. John initially began working with SEVCA in March 2016 as a Housing Case Manager for the new General Assistance (GA) Alternatives Pilot Program, a joint project between SEVCA and Groundworks Collaborative in Brattleboro to help reduce the time homeless households spend in motels by helping them locate alternative housing (including the option of transitional housing provided by Groundworks) as quickly as possible. This temporary position was continued through the Housing Opportunity Program funding for SEVCA that was renewed in July 2016. But when a case worker position became vacant in our Springfield Office, John shifted to this new role, having also recently moved to the Springfield area. John has a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Idaho, and also worked for three years in that state as a case manager with homeless and at-risk populations prior to joining SEVCA.
New Staff:
Ginnie Maguire: Crisis Fuel worker, hired in January 2017. New again, that is...Ginnie first worked with SEVCA about 20 years ago, when she helped establish the crisis fuel assistance program, serving as SEVCA's first crisis fuel coordinator from the mid- to late-1990s. She worked for SEVCA again as a crisis fuel worker in 2009, and then in 2010, she changed positions to work on the General Assistance (GA) program during the time SEVCA (and the other CAAs) operated it for the state. When the state took back the administration of the GA program, Ginnie was hired by the state and worked with the GA program for another four years. Ginnie has also worked as an accountant and as a state park ranger. She is now based in the Springfield outreach office, and says of her return to SEVCA: "It's good to be home!"
Joe Wiah: Housing Case Manager, hired in January 2017. Joe is based in SEVCA's Brattleboro outreach office and works as a housing case manager on the GA Alternatives grant. Joe is a graduate of the School for International Training, earning his Master's degree in Service Leadership and Management in 2013. He spent many years in his native Liberia as Deputy Director for Catholic Charities, specializing in children's rights work, including assisting former child soldiers to participate in the Truth & Reconciliation process and helping draft Liberia's first national law for the protection of children's rights. He most recently served as a service coordinator for Pathways in Brattleboro. He's glad to work for SEVCA, saying, "The organization is clearly mature and well-established, and the support has been phenomenal!" Joe lives in Brattleboro, while his family resides in Philadelphia. He enjoys living in Vermont, and spends his free time watching soccer-or rather, "football," as they call it in Liberia and everywhere else in the world!
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SEVCA's Head Start program is a federally funded, comprehensive preschool program that serves children and families at four locations in Windsor County: Springfield, Chester, Windsor, and White River Junction. We are now accepting applications from families with children ages 3 to 5 for the 2017-18 school year. Head Start is an inclusive program that provides quality child development, early education, and support services to families with lower incomes, children with disabilities, and speakers of English as a second language. If you or someone you know is looking for a high quality early education experience for their child, along with plenty of opportunities for parent involvement, please contact SEVCA's Head Start Program Director Lori Canfield at 802-885-6669 or 1-877-535-3497, or send her an email at
lcanfield@sevca.org
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