GLCAP's 2020 Top Ten

GLCAP's 2020 Top Ten Over the course of 2020, the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) provided nearly a thousand northwest Ohio households with COVID-19 financial assistance. Using $1.3 million in CARES Act funds, GLCAP provided mortgage, rent, water, utility and food assistance to residents in Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca and Wood counties. The money came in late October, which means staff had to move quickly to distribute it all before the end-of year deadline for applications. "We credit our frontline staff with providing so much assistance in such a short amount of time," said Ruthann House, President and CEO of GLCAP. That wasn't the only thing GLCAP did in 2020. Several other programs, grants and partnerships all provided assistance to people in needs. The following are the top ten dates for GLCAP in 2020, in chronological order. January 21, 2020: GLCAP's Senior Helping Hands program began partnering with local contractors and repairmen to fix health and safety home repair needs for county seniors. Repairs available included fixing faucets, installing handrails, ramp and stair repair and more. January 27, 2020: A $38,000 grant from the Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) funded staff and training to expand GLCAP's efforts to become a Financial Opportunity Center. February 18, 2020: A grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture supported low-interest loans through the Household Water Well Program. Rural residents could apply for up to $11,000 in loans to make improvements to water wells and in-home water treatment systems. March 20, 2020: As the COVID-19 pandemic began to tighten its grip on the nation, GLCAP's facilities closed to the public. June 26, 2020: GLCAP partnered with United Way of Sandusky County to purchase a temperature detection camera. The nearly $3,000 camera was placed in the entryway of Sandusky County Senior Campus in Fremont in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. July 1, 2020: GLCAP began providing financial assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program, paying for residents' electric bills, air conditioning repairs and even window AC units. The program lasted through September 30. On the same day, GLCAP launched its 26th People Helping People campaign. The crowdfunded effort assisted low-income individuals and families with vehicle repairs, medical bills and more. August 25, 2020: A second partnership with Rural LISC allowed GLCAP to begin offering Financial Opportunity Center services out of their main office at 127 S. Front St. The center assisted Fremont residents with financial and employment needs like securing living wage jobs, building credit, reducing debt and other financial coaching. September 9, 2020: GLCAP received a five-year Migrant and Seasonal Head Start grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant provides $5.4 million per year to offer no-cost child development and family support to eligible migrant families with young children. With the grant, GLCAP will be able to help 324 children and add 130 staff to early childhood facilities across five counties. October 28, 2020: With the acquisition of the $1.3 million CARES Act money, GLCAP once again began offering mortgage, rent and utility assistance for people financially affected by the pandemic. December 7, 2020: Crawford County received a two-year, $1 million grant from the Ohio Development Services Agency, Office of Community Development for the Community Housing Impact & Preservation (CHIP) program, which provides home repairs for low to moderate-income households. The CHIP program is administered through GLCAP. At the beginning of 2021, GLCAP received a second round of CARES Act funding to assist families throughout 2021. For more information, visit glcap.org/covidrelief or call 1 (800) 775-9767.