08-09-1999 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The Vision for the Viliage Initiative, launched at lOCP’s 1997 Annual Meeting, set in motion a communitywide action plan to remove the key barriers to self sufficiency-lack of affordable housing, lack of affordable child care, transportation barriers, job skills that lag behind a changing job market, and lack of connection with the resources and opportunities of our community. Community leaders were convened around a proposed structure for implementing this initiative. Housing, Child Care, Employment, Transportation, and Valuing Families and Children Task Forces were formed Community leaders and volunteers from all sectors signed on - some as task force participants, others as bridge builders, still others as recruiters of people, funds, in-kind gi^ and services, champions in the community, etc. Early and continued heartening results of these efforts include but are not limited to: Development and staffing of the Community Housing Coalition. Expansion of the lOCP Housing Endowment Fund (a renewable resource to fund, and leverage frmding for, long term affordable housing solutions) to $500,000+ and development of a 2-year plan for use of the fund. Development of the Kid ’s Kare Konnection, a nonprofit Child Care Center at Messiah United Methodist Church in Plymouth, which will open in January/2000 and which will provide 60 new affordable child care slots. A west suburban legislative advocacy campaign for full funding of the Basic Sliding Fee Child Care Program; an August, 1999 campaign for donations to Kids ’ Kare Konnection from August tax rebates. Enhancement of the Independence Day Project ~ recruitment of 3 car dealer partners who sell good used cars to lOCP at discounted rates, discounted car repair by participating repair shops, and development of the Independence Day Car Fund (used to buy used cars from participating dealers.) Upgrade of our services to MFIP-S clients through creative lOCP staffing and collaboration with the West Hennepin Employment Partnership. Expansion of our partnership with Employment Action Center -16 hr/wk Job specialist now on site at lOCP. The October 1998 launch of the Caring Clinic, a primary health care pilot providing free care for the uninsured at two of HealthSystem Minnesota ’s subuii}an clinics — Wayzata Internal Medicine and Creekside in St. Louis Park. Expansion of CONECT to the Shenandoah Apartment Homes, Willow Woods townhomes, and Kimberly Meadov's. Expansion of the lOCP/Interchurch BeFriender Project which provides lay pastoral care for persons in difficult life transitions. I ■ ■ : lOCP partners with Community Action for Suburban Hennepin County (CASH), Hennepin County, the Employment Action Center, our west suburban counterparts: STEP, WeCan, and Hopkins Resource Center, and Family to Family Ties, on WHEP (West Hennepin Employment Partnership). This initiative, one of seven regional