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August 15, 2003
Steinhaus Announces More Community Development Recipients
Over $2 Million Distributed Countywide
Poughkeepsie... Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus has
announced he has finalized contractual agreements with eight non-profit
organizations that applied for and were awarded Community Development
Block Grant (CDBG) monies, for their 2003 program year.
County Executive Steinhaus noted, “The projects are in addition to the
municipal grants I announced last week and are to allow our community based
providers to effectively continue services to some of the most vulnerable
residents in the county. The fact that all the organizations who applied,
received funding, demonstrates that my administration is dedicated to
ensuring all necessary services are provided to all residents of Dutchess
County.”
The federal program guidelines allow up to fifteen percent of the grant to be
awarded to non-profit agencies for human service programs. The Community
Development Advisory Committee, the policy making board for the CDBG program
has, in recent years awarded the maximum amount to the applying non-profit
agency for a range of services throughout Dutchess County. A summary of the
various services to be provided throughout the county follows:
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The Child Abuse Prevention Center, which serves high-risk children
who are victims of abuse, received $13,746 to enhance the investigations of
child abuse through the use of a multi-disciplinary team, a child friendly
interview and physical examination. At the other end of the age scale, the
Dutchess County Association for Senior Citizens was awarded $20,000 to
provide isolated seniors with contact through a telephone reassurance project
and an intergenerational pen pal program.
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The Dutchess County Community Action Agency, Inc. will use $13,866
for its Big Brothers/Big Sisters program to provide a professionally
supported one-to-one relationship with a caring adult and a volunteer mentor
for every child in need.
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Family Services, Inc. will fund its Comprehensive Services for
Families in Stress program. The $25,000 in grant funds will include crime
victims assistance, domestic abuse awareness and parenting services. Grace
Smith House, Inc. provides victims of domestic violence with emergency
housing, advocacy and support services. The agency will use their $20,000 in
funds toward these activities.
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Hudson River Housing, Inc. provides a range of services to the
homeless population of Dutchess County. The agency will use their $25,000
toward housing and case management at their family and overnight shelters,
and $25,000 for their shelter for runaway and homeless youth.
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Literacy Volunteers of America provides a service to address a
critical area of need. Without the ability to read and write, numerous areas
of a persons life is impacted. The agency received a $25,000 grant to provide
community outreach focusing on recruitment and identification of volunteers
and students.
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The City of Beacon located Martin Luther King Cultural Center, Inc.
will provide educational, recreational and cultural activities for
school-aged youth through an afterschool/summer program. Beacon also sponsored four local non-profit agencies.
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Beacon Community Center will undertake repairs to the roof and the
interior of this youth facility. |
| - The Howland Cultural Center
will do both exterior and interior repairs to
this centrally located historic site. |
| - The Martin Luther King Cultural Center
will paint the outside of the
building and improve their playground for the youth that attend their
programs. |
- National Rebuilding Day with Christmas-in-April will rehabilitate seven
owner-occupied homes.
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Steinhaus concluded, “The distribution of funds to non-profits provides an
economic base to continue the county’s commitment to the quality of life as
we forge ahead making progress despite tough economic times.”
The CDBG funding is administered by the Dutchess County Department of
Planning and Development through the US Department of Housing and Urban
Development and provides grant funds to municipalities and human services
agencies to benefit low-to-moderate income residents of Dutchess County. An
advisory panel guides the County Executive in the grant considerations and
final award determinations are made by the County Executive.
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