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The coming days are the last chance for interested community members to sign up for the first ACAP Homebuyer Education Class of the New Year. ACAP offers a hoMEworks approved 8-hour homebuyer education class taught by industry professionals (lenders, home inspectors, and real estate agents) in an educational, non-sales oriented environment. The first scheduled class for the New Year is set for Saturday, January 22, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and will be held virtually via Zoom.

The hoMEworks homebuyer education classes provide an opportunity to learn about the home buying process in a neutral environment. The course is open to the public and registration is required.

To register, or for more information, contact Don Whipkey at 207-554-4175 or dwhipkey@acap-me.org.

• Participants will receive a certificate of completion for Homebuyer Education which can be presented at participating local Maine State Housing lenders.
• Local lenders, realtors, and title companies participate in our live classes to provide participants with information around what to expect when buying a home and its processes.
• Participants may be eligible for up to $3500 through the MaineHousing Advantage Program that could be used toward closing costs or down payment.
• Those eligible upon completion may qualify for a matched savings account. The program will contribute $4 for every dollar put in the program by the participant.

On ACAP Today this week, CEO Jason Parent discusses the Breakthrough Youth Program in depth. Meg Hegemann, ACAP Prevention Services Coordinator; Brynn Wilcox, ACAP Community Educator; and Steven Tilney, Youth Navigator with Downeast Community Partners, talk about the program, their roles and who can benefit from signing up. View Flyer...

With the Food and Drug Administration approving Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for 12- to 15-year-olds, and amid the Omicron variant surge, ACAP, and a group of County-wide partner organizations working collaboratively, are continuing to get the word out and help connect people to the local vaccine resources.

The FDA also said it has amended the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine for the Corona virus to also shorten the time between the completion of primary vaccination of the Pfizer vaccine and a booster dose to at least five months, instead of six, and to allow for a third dose for certain immunocompromised children 5 through 11 years of age.

• All individuals age 5 and older are eligible for a free COVID-19 Vaccination.
• Vaccinated individuals 12 and older are now eligible to receive a free COVID-19 booster shot

For more information, see this FAQ. To find a booster dose, find a vaccination site or call the Community Vaccination Line at 1-888-445-4111.

Also available is the ACAP COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline. This Helpline provides community members unable to access on-line registration sites to locate the vaccination site closest to where they live. ACAP’s Vaccination Helpline is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., and can be reached by calling the Agency’s phone number - 207-764-3721. A team of ACAP administrative support professionals staff the helpline. No information (health or otherwise) will be retained by ACAP unless authorized by the caller to explore eligibility for ACAP programs they may be interested in receiving.

ACAP is reminding the community that it offers local support, including grocery delivery, medication pick-up and other support services at no charge, thanks to a partnership with the Maine Department of Human Services. There are no income guidelines for this program. To request services, click and complete a short application accessed through the button below or the following link: (COVID-19 Community Supports | Department of Health and Human Services (maine.gov)) or call ACAP at 207-764-3721. 

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Team members are regularly meeting virtually, and upon request, in-person with customers to take applications for the 2021-2022 heating season. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt normal operations, customers, for the most part, are given the choice of meeting in person or conducting their intake interview over the phone. The intake appointment option is one of a number of changes to this year's HEAP program. Among the others are an expansion of program income guidelines that will allow more County residents to qualify, and the option for customers to connect with a navigator to help determine possible eligibility for other programs, such as rental assistance. Call 207-768-3053 to schedule a HEAP appointment.

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program helps pay rent and utility costs for eligible renters affected by COVID-19 and continues to accept new applicants. ACAP, in addition to Maine's state-wide community action agencies, are running this program across Maine.

Aroostook County residents qualify if they:

• Pay rent
• Meet the program's income guidelines
• Have COVID related financial impacts (unemployed, reduced income, increased bills, etc.)
• Have trouble paying rent or utilities

Renters meeting the income guidelines generally qualify. To complete an application, or learn more about the program specifics, go to mainehousing.org/covidrent or call ACAP at 207-764-3721.

ACAP CEO JASON PARENT JOINS WAGM-TV AM CHAT HOST SHAWN CUNNINGHAM FOR WIDE-RANGING NEW YEAR DISCUSSION ON ALL THINGS ACAP IN 2022

THROWBACK SNAPSHOT OF THE WEEK...

Interested in joining our team? View Current Openings