Executive Director of AppCAA Angie Sproles appeared before the Lee County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to inform the board of the support they lend to the community.
The purpose of the agency, according to Sproles, is to reduce the problems that people in poverty face on a daily basis, and to guide the impoverished toward self-sufficiency.
Sproles reported that from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, AppCAA assisted 3,666 individuals and a total of 1,393 households — in comparison to 2,165 individuals and 842 households from July 2007 to June 2008.
“The demands for our services are increasing as the economy worsens,” proclaimed Sproles. “We do budget counseling. We do emergency services assistance for people who find themselves in a financial crisis.”
“So the demands for those types of services have increased greatly,” Sproles added.
Sproles then stated that AppCAA recently received a grant from the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation to establish a Smart Beginnings Coalition, which is a coalition designed to prepare children for school readiness and to raise awareness of early childhood development throughout Lee County.
She also contended that AppCAA received an additional grant from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development in the amount of $341,726 in order to assist people who have had a drastic reduction in income, and who are in danger of becoming homeless. AppCAA partnered with the Clinch Valley Community Action Agency in Tazewell County, Va., to provide these services to the county.
Sproles then spoke about the AppCAA programs that are currently operating in Lee County. She explained that the primary focus of the agency has been housing during the winter months.
“We have been focused on weatherization, and that has been the limit to what we have been doing in the housing programs,” claimed Sproles.
She said the AppCAA recently instituted a Housing Repair Program in Lee County for individuals who are eligible for assistance from Rural Development, which is primarily the elderly.
“So if elderly individuals would like to go to the USDA Rural Development office, then there might be some potential for them to get assistance on repairing their homes,” Sproles explained.
According to Sproles, AppCAA also provides the people of Lee County with the following programs: Emergency Assistance, Home-Buyer Education, Crisis Heating, Chore Service for the Elderly, Child Care Connect, Homeless Intervention, Virginia Individual Development Account, and Workforce Investment Act Programs for Adults and Dislocated Workers.
“I just wanted to appear before you all, and let you know that we are continuing to do the work. We are currently trying to improve our outreach here in Lee County — trying to do more,” Sproles expressed to the board.
She said that the AppCAA office is presently located near the Virginia Workforce Center in Pennington Gap, Va., but on March 31, the office will be relocated.
“We are looking at a potential place to purchase right now,” said Sproles. “We are in negotiations, and trying to figure out what we are going to do as far as relocating. It’s a tight time frame for us.”
Chairman Larry Mosley extended his appreciation for Sproles and the AppCAA office.
“We certainly appreciate that you took the time to come visit with us... great job,” expressed Mosley, adding that the programs provided by AppCAA have greatly impacted all communities within Lee County.
“We are here to help,” concluded Sproles.
In other official business, the Lee County Board of Supervisors is urging all land-owners with questions concerning land reassessment to make appointments with consultants by Feb. 26.
Citizens are encouraged to call the following phone numbers for any information relating to land reassessment in Lee County: (276) 346-7725, (276) 346-2818, or (877) 309-2463. Individuals can also address the Lee County Board of Equalization with any concern regarding the reassessment.
Adam Young is a Staff Writer for the Middlesboro Daily News. He can be contacted by e-mail at ayoung@middlesborodailynews.com.
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