Poughkeepsie... County Executive William R. Steinhaus announces today he has directed Department of Social Services Commissioner Robert Allers to allocate $17,792 to Community Action Partnership of DC.  These monies will fund expenses for staffing and food for the southern Dutchess Site’s Lunch Program located in Beacon for the remainder of the year. 

Each week the Southern Dutchess Site serves 150 people of all ages, most often seniors who are isolated and not connected to other services.  The program recently lost state funding due in part to the decrease in poverty rates in the City.  According to Maureen Lashlee, Executive Director, “City of Beacon has seen many positive economic changes over the past years and is attracting many new residents because of the growth in the arts and housing.  Unfortunately, we still have a core population who are economically challenged.  Without this new funding provided by the County Executive Steinhaus, I would be forced to close the program.”  The new funding for the Beacon site will start immediately and will allow the staff and Board of Directors to explore other options for sustainability.

Steinhaus states, “County Government is a critical partner in the economic revitalization of Beacon having played a leadership role recruiting the DIA Museum and the Rivers and Estuaries Center to the city, but fundamentally it’s the people of Beacon who are always our top priority.  In this case, I am pleased county government and our DSS was able to step in to help a vulnerable population.”