NEWS FROM UNION-SNYDER CAA
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IN THIS ISSUE:
- The New Union County Food Hub is Underway
- CAA Partners with Susquehanna Valley Mediation to Prevent Evictions and Support Landlords
- Now Taking VITA Appointments for 2021
- Homelessness Crisis in Central PA Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
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Greetings!
Here's what's going on at Union-Snyder CAA...
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Union County Food Hub is Underway at The Miller Center
Connecting existing pantries and distributions to nutritious and sustainable donations
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CAA has entered into a partnership with The Lewisburg YMCA at The Miller Center, powered by Evangelical and Geisinger to establish the region’s first “food hub”. Inspired by various national food hub models, the project will create a centralized solution to addressing barriers that prevent families from accessing fresh, nutritious food.
The Union County Food Hub is located in Lewisburg's The Miller Center’s industrial kitchen and café space, previously used as a retail café, which has ceased operations. The Hub will serve as a centralized storage and distribution center for existing pantries and distribution programs to provide fresh produce and other nutritious perishables as well as non-perishable dry goods. Additionally, the collaborating organizations aim to inspire healthy, affordable nutrition through on-site preparation of freezable meals for distribution, community cooking, and nutrition education opportunities post-pandemic.
Approximately 8,000 people in Union and Snyder counties are currently food insecure, with an expected 5% increase as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (Food Insecurity in Pennsylvania, 2020, Feeding America). Despite the number of food distribution programs in the community, CAA recognizes there is still a disparity when it comes to ensuring every family has proper access to food.
“Localizing the redistribution of the food supply in this way creates an innovative charitable food system that responds to the unique needs of the community,” commented Rachel Herman, Sustainable Food Solutions VISTA at CAA. “The Union County Food Hub at The Miller Center can also serve as an opportunity to inspire the curiosity of healthy eating, breaking down a key factor of generational poverty right at the kitchen table.”
“CAA is elated about the opportunity to partner with The Miller Center in this way,” commented Emily Gorski, Community Impact Director at CAA. “We are committed to empowering people living with low income to thrive. The Miller Center is committed to enhancing community health for all people. Together, we have a unique opportunity to bridge the gap in inadequate attention on health concerns for people living in poverty through the most basic of human needs: food.”
For more information on the Union County Food Hub, contact Nicole Peterson, Food Security Coordinator at CAA, at npeterson@union-snydercaa.org or (570) 374-0181.
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Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program
Preventing evictions and promote long-term financial stability for landlords
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Union-Snyder Community Action Agency (CAA) partnered with Susquehanna Valley Mediation (SVM) in obtaining a $10,000 grant from the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania to develop a local landlord-tenant mediation program, designed to stabilize renter households and prevent evictions.
CAA entered into a formal, co-located collaboration with SVM to connect renters and landlords to available rental assistance, legal information, and professional mediation services with trained, impartial mediators, in the event of a landlord-tenant conflict.
“This partnership brings together the resources and information landlords and tenants need to make decisions together. Similar programs in other parts of the state have been very well-received by both landlords and tenants. We’re proud to partner with CAA to bring this service to Union and Snyder counties. We encourage people to contact us before there is a crisis, whenever possible,” said Susan Jordan, Executive Director of SVM.
The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania’s Building Blocks of Landlord Tenant Mediation toolkit describes the impact that adversarial relationships can have on both tenants and their landlords: “Local leaders are struggling with what to do about the eviction crisis. Eviction completely disrupts tenants’ lives and saddles them with a court record that can negatively impact future housing opportunities for years to come. Landlords, often operating on tight margins, lose necessary income impacting their ability to meet their financial and operational obligations, including repairs and maintenance. However, the eviction aftermath is not just limited to the tenants and landlords, it also negatively impacts employers, schools, social services, courts, neighborhoods and more.”
CAA and SVM are working with key local housing and legal stakeholders such as North Penn Legal Services, Union and Snyder County Housing Authorities, Transitions of PA, and other agency representatives and landlords within the Local Housing Options Team (LHOT) to educate, design, and advertise the program. Mediators and agency staff have attended trainings on relevant topics including, but not limited to, tenant and eviction laws. Anyone with questions or seeking mediation can call SVM at 570-374-1718 or email casecoordinator@svmediation.org. People can also make referrals through the website at www.svmediation.org.
“We are delighted to partner with SVM to help create a pathway for landlords and tenants to be successful in resolving issues that may arise,” commented Sue Auman, Executive Director of CAA. “Creating an easy-to-navigate, natural referral path for folks in the community who may be experiencing housing, or frankly any issues they may need help resolving, to skilled volunteer mediators is a win/win for everyone. We’re proud to partner in this effort.”
For more information on the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program, contact Kim Amsler, Operations Director at CAA, at kamsler@union-snydercaa.org or (570) 374-0181.
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Community Donates $2,438.36 Towards Food Hub
Since announcing the Hub at the beginning of January, our community has shown their investment in this unique community resource
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In less than 10 days, CAA's community has donated over $2,400 to support the implementation of the Union County Food Hub. Money donated towards this project will go towards critical equipment and food items to ensure consistent operations. Thank you to this generous group of donors for showing your support for this innovative project to connect food resources in Union County! |
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Want to Support the Food Hub? |
There are many ways to support the implementation of the region's first Food Hub, including:
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Volunteer: Volunteer opportunities are growing by the day! Do you have a special skill or interest area that you'd like to share with the Food Hub? Email Rachel at rherman@union-snydercaa.org to learn more!
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Donate: We're now taking non-perishable and perishable food donations to start building our supply at the Hub! All donated food will be shared with local food pantries and distribution programs to go into homes of eligible families living with low income. Schedule your donation by emailing Rachel at rherman@union-snydercaa.org or calling (570) 374-0181.
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Spread the word! One of the goals of the Hub is to centralize food efforts to reduce duplication of efforts and ensure food is being provided to people who truly need it. Help us by telling your friends, family, and neighbors about the Hub!
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Now Taking Appointments for Free Tax Assistance in 2021
Call us at (570) 374-0181 to make your curbside, contact-free appointment!
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The Realities of Homelessness in Central PA During COVID and Winter
Listen to this interview from housing leaders in Lancaster and Dauphin counties
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Got some time to spare? Need some noise in the background as you're working from home? Check out this excellent interview with housing leaders in Lancaster and Dauphin counties about the realities of homelessness in Central PA and how COVID-19 has played a part in effecting an already prevalent issue in our communities. |
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Need help today? Call us at (570) 374-0181. Our lines are open during normal business hours during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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