Strategy

The Issue

Housing in disrepair financially drains occupants through structural inefficiencies such as lack of insulation, inadequate windows, and other factors that increase the cost of heat and utilities. Homelessness and housing insecurity affect the well-being of entire families, impacting health as well as the ability of family members to work and go to school. Homelessness and housing insecurity also create the conditions for crime, thereby affecting the entire community.

Our Plan

We will continue using CSBG and grant funds for education, case management, counseling, financial literacy, landlord outreach, credit repair, and assistance with poor rental history in our current programming. We will use CSBG and DVA funds to provide rent and utility assistance. and also look for grant opportunities through the private sector, particularly banks.

We will coordinate with other public and private agencies, such as the Valley Opportunity Council, the Springfield Housing Authority, Springfield Works, Way Finders, the Springfield Redevelopment Authority and area banks, to provide support services. Support services to low-income buyers will be delivered in the form of in-house or online workshops, classes, and one-on-one counseling and case management. We will help underhoused customers apply for RAFT funds, and then refer them to our HUD Certified Housing Counselor for household budget creation, housing search or other referrals as needed.

The Issue

Secure living-wage employment is perhaps the single most important determinant of economic stability. If a household has an adequate annual income, its members will have access to more services, which contributes to a better quality of life.

We’ve identified several areas in which additional support to obtain and maintain self-sustaining employment:

• skills and education they need to be qualified employees,
• education about the “cliff effect” so that people looking for jobs or better jobs can make informed decisions, and
• the necessary job supports, like transportation and child care, to access good jobs.

Our Plan

We will continue using CSBG, DVA and other grant funds for training and managing volunteers, senior aides and interns, conducting “cliff effect” workshops and tracking referrals.

We will coordinate with other public and private agencies, such as the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Elder Affairs, the Springfield Rescue Mission and the Worthington Street Shelter, to identify low-income individuals who need these supportive services. The services will be delivered in the form of in-house or online workshops, classes, one-on-one counseling and case management. We will refer unemployed and underemployed customers to MassHire.

The Issue

Affordable child care and afterschool/summer programs for kids is a pressing issue for low-income residents. Reliable child care allows adults in the household to work without compromising the safety or the developmental needs of their children. It is perhaps the single most important job support for families.

Our Plan

We will continue using CSBG and Department of Early Education and Care funding for running our programs. Springfield Partners will coordinate with other public and private agencies, such as the Springfield Public Schools, Raising a Reader, Behavioral Health Network, Commonwealth Mobile Oral Health Services, the Urban League of Springfield and the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation, to enhance our programming. The services will be delivered in the form of age-appropriate classroom activities; parent engagement activities such as workshops, field trips, open houses and lunches; and family case management.

We do not merely provide services to people with low income; we actively seek their input and encourage their participation in running our agency, as staff members, volunteers, and, most notably, as members of our Board of Directors.