Programs

iStock_000001524668XSmall.jpgWEATHERIZATION PROGRAM

The Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) began in 1977 in conjunction with the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development, and is funded through the U.S. Department of Energy, the Ohio Department of Development, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Weatherization Program has served 250,000 low-income households throughout Ohio.

The Weatherization Program is designed to reduce energy consumption and lower utility cost to income eligible households. It accomplishes this through the initialization of Energy Conservation Measures in eligible households at no cost to the occupants.

Weatherization efforts have changed considerably in the past two decades.  The program evolved from the installation of simple energy conservation measures, such as weather stripping into a technologically sophisticated approach that is based on site specific diagnostic testing and targeted treatments.  Ohio’s Weatherization program has been at the forefront in incorporating many new approaches and in assessing their effectiveness.

The main measures provided by the program include; consumer education, wall and attic insulation, house diagnostics, heating system inspections, repairs and tune-ups.

Warm Choice is a weatherization program funded by Columbia Gas for income eligible customers of Columbia Gas only. 

The AEP Ohio Low Income Program helps eligible AEP customers reduce their utility costs by installing energy efficient measures for their home, apartment, or mobile home. These measures may includeCFL light bulbs, hot water tank wraps, and Energy Star refrigerators and freezers. All energy saving measures are installed at no cost to eligible customers. A home survey and consumer education will also be provided to eligible families. This program is available to AEP customers at or below the 200% Federal Poverty Guidelines.

FRANCISCAN COMMUNITY MEALS

 

The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity at Good Samaritan Medical Center started the Franciscan Community Meals Program in 1967. Due to the growth of this program the Community Action Agency of Muskingum County was requested to assume the responsibility of the program in 1979, with Genesis Health Care System (Good Samaritan Campus) remaining the supplier of the meals. The age range of our clients is six years to one hundred years.
 
Meals are prepared for each individual as prescribed by their physician, and according to a list of their likes and dislikes. Hot meals are prepared and delivered Monday through Friday. Frozen meals can be delivered for the weekend or holidays. Individuals living outside the delivery area can receive frozen meals, and have them iStock_000008380994XSmall.jpgdelivered on Monday’s.
 
Franciscan Community Meals is a provider for PASSPORT sponsored meals when the client has been approved through the Area Agency on Aging. There is a Wavier Program designed for individuals under the age of sixty-five who are in need of home delivered meals, these have to be approved by the Department of Human Services. Any individual can receive home delivered meals on a self-pay basis.
 
In addition The Franciscan Community Meals-on-Wheels Adopt-a-Route program is an easy and effective way for companies and organizations to get involved in their local communities! With as few as four people, a company or organization can Adopt-a-Route and deliver meals one day a week. Therefore, individual staff members would only deliver once a month, but the company or organization would help seniors, homebound and handicapped individuals every week.
 
Volunteers are the vital link for the Franciscan Community Meals-on-Wheels program and add an immeasurable human value to the quality of what we do. We believe that those we serve deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Much too often, the volunteer may be the only contact with the customer for that day, the only caring words or smile, or the only safety net to alert us of possible health conditions or additional needs the customer may have.
 
For more information or to volunteer please call our office at 453-5703, Extension 117.  The Franciscan Community Meals Program is totally Self-Supporting.

EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM

The Employment Training Program was developed to provide on the job training for referrals From Job and Family Services and Experience Works. We provide hands on training to each participant, which includes but not limited to:
 
Clerical
Janitorial
Light housekeeping
Laborer
Job Skills
Office etiquette
 
It is our goal to train the participants to have employable skills, preparing them to enter the work force and become self sufficient after leaving our agency.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

In the last 15 years Muskingum Economic Opportunity Action Agency (Community Action) has recognized that there was a need for decent, safe, affordable housing for the low-moderate income residents of Muskingum County.
 

 

Since 1993 we have applied for a number of Local, State, and Federal Grants that have made this goal a reality. iStock_000005410463XSmall.jpgOur completed projects include three Senior complexes, Falls Manor, 32- three bedroom garden apartments with an attached garage, Frank Cook a 60-unit apartment building and Zanesville Historic a 20-unit apartment building in all of these at least 1 member of the household must be 55 or older. Eagle View is an 80 unit apartment complex and Troon Crossing a mixed property for income eligible households of any age and is a 15-year Homeownership property. In 2008 Zanesville Family Homes was completed which added 50 scattered site units and is also a 15-year Homeownership program. We have also successfully completed Home Ownership Programs.

 

 
We believe that to accomplish this goal it is important to incorporate the thoughts and concerns of local government, board members, housing advisory committees, and the residents of Muskingum County.
As we look to the future we will be looking at ways that we can provide more affordable housing, while working with other agencies that have the same goal of producing safe, sanitary, affordable housing for the low/moderate income families of Muskingum County.

 

 

Home Energy Assistance Program

The Community Action Agency of Muskingum County has served low to moderate-income residents of Muskingum County for 40 years. Our current energy assistance programs include E-HEAP and HEAP. E-HEAP is run currently as two programs. The Winter Crisis Program is designed to assist area residents in case of a shutoff on their main or secondary iStock_000007309225XSmall.jpgheating source, or who have less than a ten-day supply of bulk fuel. The Summer Crisis Program SCP was established to assist low to moderate income families (especially seniors) with the high cost of summer electric bills, and to provide an air conditioner to individuals with a qualifying medical condition.

The Winter Crisis Program operates from November 1, thru March 31 annually. It is designed to assist eligible, low to medium income families and individuals with a one-time payment towards their main and/or secondary heating source. Assistance with furnace repair is also available.

The Summer Crisis Program operates July 1st thru August 31 annually, and assists low to moderate-income families and individuals with their electric bill and furnishes air conditioners to individuals with a qualifying medical condition.

Also available is the Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP) that allows eligible customers to make lower utility payments according to their current income. Contact Muskingum County Community Action Agency at 453-5278.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

There are two Outreach Programs supported by the Community Action Agency of Muskingum County. The programs are income-based; in order to qualify individuals or families’ income must fall at or below 125% of the Federal Poverty Guideline. If you would like more information about any of our Outreach Programs, please contact any of our Outreach staff at 453-5703 or 453-1692, hours for both pantries are 8-11 and 1-3 daily. The staff and board would like to thank everyone that donated to our baby and special needs pantries. We are very grateful for everything.
 
BABY PANTRY
In 1985 Muskingum County Community Action Agency started the Baby Pantry; at that time it was the first of its kind in the state. We knew that there was assistance available for food, but that often the needs of area infants were going unmet. The Baby Pantry offers help to income eligible families with formula, baby food, juice and disposable diapers when available. This program is very helpful when the baby is first brought home from the hospital, or the Doctor changes the formula. It also proves useful when payday isn’t quite soon enough, or when WIC benefits are not available for another few days. The Baby Pantry Program is funded through our CSBG Grant, Operation Feed, EFSP, and local donations, and is available to families every two (2) months.
 
SPECIAL NEEDS
The Special Needs/Taxable Pantry helps provide items that can’t be purchased with Food Stamps, or after paying the rent, utilities, etc. The pantry provides personal hygiene and cleaning supplies. The Special Needs Pantry is funded through our CSBG Grant, Operation Feed, and local donations, and is available to families every 4 months.

 M.E.O.A.G. INC. THE COMMUNITY ACTION OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY SCHOLARSHIP

In 1998 the Community Action Agency of Muskingum County established a scholarship fund as part of Community Action Month, which is celebrated in May. From 2001 to 2009  the scholarship was named in honor of longtime Muskingum County Community Action Agency Executive Director and human rights advocate Emory O. (Pete) Myers.

In 2009 the MEOAG Board of Directors decided to change the scholarship. The M.E.O.A.G. Scholarship is themed around a person, living or deceased, who has contributed to the betterment of the Zanesville, Muskingum County area. M.E.O.A.G. board and staff nominate individuals with the honoree being selected by the scholarship committee. This years honorees are Rev. William (Bill) & Dottie Briggs. A fundraiser is held iStock_000003737186XSmall.jpgeach May to raise money for the scholarship and is awarded annually to an eligible Muskingum County high school senior or non-traditional student. In addition, the recipient’s application is submitted to the Corporation of Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD) for consideration in the David V. Stivison Scholarship Fund.

 In 2010 the agency held its fifth annual Golf Fundraiser at Eagle Sticks Golf Course. This successful event raised enough proceeds to award one $1,000.000 scholarship with additional proceeds used to continue the growth of the Scholarship Fund. We would like to thank all who made this event possible, but especially our Gold Sponsor's whose generous contributions made this whole event more successful. 

 

 

 

 

 

Community Action Partnership Community Action Partnership