Powhatan-Goochland Community Action

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Powhatan-Goochland Community Action Agency

For nearly 35 years, the Powhatan-Goochland Community Action Agency (P-GCAA) has provided an array of needed services to low-income families in both Powhatan and Goochland Counties. With the use of federal, state and local funding, the P-GCAA has provided a changing menu of services depending on the communities' assessment of needs and the funds available to assist individuals with a "Hand-up to Self Sufficiency". As a non-profit agency established to serve qualified individuals in need, we continue to provide services or refer individuals to a variety of service providers for assistance. With more than 2,000 individuals in these two (2) counties living below the poverty level, many continue to be in need of food, clothing and adequate, suitable shelter including indoor plumbing, water and wastewater disposal. Defining the number of low-income individuals in Powhatan and Goochland under the States definition of "self sufficiency" indicators, the number of poor exceeds 4,000. As the cost of living continues to climb in both Powhatan and Goochland, those individuals that have fixed, low and/or subsidized income suffer the most. This disparity continues to require that individuals throughout the counties make daily decisions related to the ever-increasing costs of food vs. medicine; electricity vs. transportation; housing repairs vs. tax payments; affordable rent vs. affordable ownership of a home; clean water vs. clothing. While it is easy to realize how well we are doing as a nation overall, it is also easy to overlook those that are, through no fault of their own, facing these decisions. There are poor working individuals that must make these choices. There are children that must suffer the consequences of these decisions. There are senior citizens that have contributed to our society and now have to face these obstacles. At the present minimum wage, a full-time employee earns approximately $9,400.00 per year to live on after taxes. In the instance of a family of four (4) with two (2) adults and two (2) children, that requires both adults to work full-time in order to bring home $18,800.00 a year. The federal poverty level, based on federal poverty guidelines for 2006, for a family of four (4) is established at $20,000.00 per year, therefore, this family is already $1,200.00 below poverty. Now consider the cost of life insurance, fuel increases, furnishings, clothing, shoes, toiletries, holiday/birthday gifts, education, recreation and entertainment and try to imagine living on that income for a year. This example provides $707.00 every two weeks for four (4) individuals to live on. In Powhatan and Goochland Counties, considerable numbers of residents spend more than that on car payments alone. See "State of Poverty" link on this web site.

At the Powhatan-Goochland Community Action Agency, we try to provide services that allow needy individuals to get through a difficult period in their life. These "emergencies" are in the form of a lay-off, unexpected medical or dental need, vehicle repair work including licenses plates, inspections and personal property taxes and the need for basic food, clothing and adequate shelter. As an agency, we do not attempt to do this alone but work very closely with the community's faith-based institutions, civic organizations, service organizations and local governmental agencies in order to provide a service and not duplicate a service. We strive to provide a temporary solution, not a lifetime of care.

What does the Powhatan-Goochland Community Action Agency do in order to assist in meeting these needs? We assist in referring individuals to service providers that have the experience and ability to assist directly with the presented need or needs. Additionally, we assist with applications for funds to address the needs that are presented to us by eligible residents of Powhatan and Goochland Counties. Finally, we provide a number of "direct" services such as those listed below:

The Project Discovery Program works with low-income and "first generation to attend college" students by assisting them with planning for the future. We work with the parents and the students, we assist in seeking grants and affordable tuition at colleges and universities and we assist in the application process. We are able to provide free SAT testing for those that are qualified. We transport students to colleges and universities to meet with financial officers, admission officers and current students and to see the campus. The students earn the right to attend college through their academic achievement; we try to assist in getting them there and in helping them develop tools and resources that allow them to succeed and graduate from college.

The Transportation Program provides for rides to the low-income, handicapped and senior population that needs to go to a "Friendship Cafe´" to receive a hot meal on a daily basis. We drive our vehicles more than 80,000 miles a year for this activity. Additionally, we provide for transportation for low-income individuals to go to the drug store, the post office, medical and dental appointments and grocery stores in order to obtain those goods and services we consider "basic". We hire drivers, purchase vehicles, pay for fuel and maintenance and pay for insurance in order to deliver this service. Whenever possible we utilize volunteers but with this, there also come liabilities that we must provide and pay for in case of accident or injury. Unfortunately, this reality limits our ability to do many things we would like to do. Our work with the Goochland-Powhatan Community Services Board involves transportation to a number of their clients' places of employment.

The Community/Emergency Services Program assists individuals and families that require emergency intervention to obtain assistance with heating during the winter, electricity, small home repairs, in-door plumbing and housing rehabilitation assistance and dry well replacement. Our work with the Council of Churches, civic organizations, service organizations and government agencies is largely coordinated through this office. The Community Services Coordinators are responsible for a wide array of services to residents that need assistance and for the coordination of the efforts to deliver these services. This includes everything from obtaining, cutting and delivering firewood to providing specialized food programs during holiday seasons for residents that would otherwise do without. Additionally, this office obtains furniture and appliances, identifies individuals in need of services, performs work related to ameliorating inadequate housing conditions and provides direct funds to the service organizations that assist in meeting these needs. When there is a need for clothing or food in a home, the P-GCAA works with the food pantries and clothes closets in both jurisdictions to assist in provision of these essentials. Each county has established an "Advisory Council" to the P-GCAA Board of Directors; the Community Services Coordinators work with these councils in fund raising and other activities that enable the agency to deliver many of the services we provide.

The Head Start Program for pre-school children in Powhatan County is a direct service of the P-GCAA. This program provides for the education of low-income children (ages 3-5) and provides services directed at assisting the children and families to get a "head start" for entrance into kindergarten. Each weekday these children attend classes from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Head Start provides breakfast and lunch as part of the daily program and health and dental screenings on an annual basis. Through the employment of teachers, assistant teachers, drivers and educational and health care coordinators, Head Start is able to deliver year-round services to 34 children that need this service. Beyond the classroom educational activities, Head Start employees are charged with providing home visits to assess family needs. Additionally, they identify children with special needs and help with the provision of these services.

The Virginia Cares Program is another direct service provided by the P-GCAA. This service promotes self-sufficiency by ex-offenders and assists these individuals in transitioning from incarceration to lives as law-abiding individuals that contribute to the betterment of society. Prior to the prisoners' release from institutions around the Commonwealth, Virginia Cares staff provides them with lectures and instruction in how to work and live productively and positively in the community. Following their release, staff assists these individuals in obtaining employment, housing and other basic needs. Work with families, employers, probation officers and other service delivery agencies requires careful coordination by these employees.

Programs in the developmental stages by the Powhatan-Goochland Community Action Agency in collaboration with other public and private agencies include a wide array of services to victims of Domestic Violence, G.E.D. training and testing, tutoring services for students and basic computer classes. Additionally, we look forward to expanding our transportation services to provide for increased access to employment, shopping, medical and dental appointments, and other needed community goods and services in both jurisdictions. Out-of-county transportation services are under consideration, especially for medical needs such as dialysis.

See the "Contact" link in order to reach the staff member for the services you are interested in.