Capstone Community Action

Early childhood and family development (head start)capstone head start and early head start programs prepare 242 young children for future success in school and in life through the operation tion of licensed child care centers, partnerships with local schools and provision of services to families in their homes. Capstone's whole family approach provides a full contiuum of support including parent education, parent leadership opportunities, health, dental and nutrition services, disability services, mental health services, and resource and referral for other needed social services. Our brook street high school is a model family literacy program for teen parent education, high school and college achievement. Located in barre's historical brookside school, brook street high school is co located with our learning together early childhood education programs and strives to break the barriers of intergenerational poverty for at risk young families.

Community economic development (ced)our ced programs deliver services to low income vermonters to address food and financial insecurity. Our food programs stem the tide of rising food insecurity for low income vermonters. We operate the largest food shelf in the central Vermont region this year, we served prepared meals and provided healthy food to hungry vermonters in 5,835 visits. We break down barriers to healthy food for rural vermonters with delivery to select Community sites, such as a parent child/health centers. Our childcare food program, that helped 120 childcare providers to offer nutritious meals to over 1,000 kids on a daily basis.

Weatherization Capstone's weatherization team is dedicated to improve energy effciency and cost savings for low income vermonters. We conduct home energy audits, added insulation, draft reduction, heating system efficiency improvements, installation of energy efficient lighting, hot water heater replacement or insulation, and more. In addition, this program offers emergency heating system replacements or repairs to ensure proper safety and functioning of home heating systems. Our 3e thermal program works with owners of multi-unit affordable housing to improve the energy efficiency, comfort and safety of those occupying their rental units. In 2022-23, weatherization service provided 721 services to 451 homes, lowering average household energy use and creating healthier homes while reducing climate impact.

Family and Community support services (fcss)provides crisis assistance to people in need of housing, utilities and home heating fuel. Fcss provides 24/7 coverage during the winter season to ensure a lack of fuel does not create unsafe home conditions for low income vermonters. This year, we provided 1,252 adults and 667 children with fuel assistance and subsidized $80,000 of emergency fuel costs for vermonters unable to afford fuel in the harsh winter season. Capstone's housing services supports vermonters livng in motels, encampments or in their cars. Once housed, Capstone services are critical to keep homeless vermonters in safe temporary shelter or permanent homes. We find housing, vouchers and rental assistance and collaborate with Community partners to ensure access to a wide continuum of services. In 2023, we helped 480 men, women and children to access or maintain housing or navigation to unhoused vermonters.our financial security programs include micro business counseling, tax assistance, and financial coaching. Microbusiness counseling assists self-employed low-income vermonters in businesses basics and planning. In 2023 Capstone counseled 142 entrepreneurs. Capstone provides comprehensive financial coaching through its savings and credit program, helping individuals develop budgets, improve credit and build savings. This year, our financial coaching program provided 362 individuals education in household budgeting, debt reduction and Capstone's matched savings program offers comprehensive financial literacy curriculum and provides earned income in savings accounts where their efforts are matched by 1 for every $1 deposited, accruing assets for post-secondary education, business development, vehicle purchase or home ownership. Our tax assistance program utilized 30 volunteers and helped 1,133 low income vermonters file their taxes in 2023.housing (prospect forest):capstone provides nine affordable housing units in two buildings (hud section 8) in randolph, Vermont called prospect forest homes. Workforce development (cka):capstone's Community kitchen academy (cka) offers low income vermonters training for a culinary career. Students attend courses to learn basic culinary skills, food service and safety, and general job skills, despite the persisting pandemic economy, 21 people graduated from cka. Transportation and climate impact:our transportation and climate programs continues to expand considerably in new and exciting directions. Our mileage smart program provides grants of up to $5,000 for Community residents to switch to high efficiency cars. Since the program's launch, 792 people participated in the mileage smart program and are now driving a gas hybrid or electric vehicle purchased used from a local car dealer. Our green saving smart program helped 157 vermonters reduce energy costs.other accomplishmentscapstone was front and center helping communities impacted by the historic flooding of july 2023. Capstone worked with Community partners to establish the main street fund which raised and distributed over $800,000 to small Vermont businesses impacted by the flood. Capstone was also selected by the state to be the Vermont disaster long term case management leader. Capstone is in the process of hiring the 14 person team who will support the 5% of Vermont flood survivors requiring long term help to resolve their cases.