Kennebec Valley Community Action Program (KVCAP)

KVCAP's mission is to strengthen individuals, families and communities by providing direct services and by partnering with others to create sustainable solutions to poverty in an ever-changing environment. Our vision for the Kennebec Valley Region is thriving communities made up of individuals and families who are healthy, financially secure and able to reach their fullest potential. KVCAP assists people in Kennebec, Somerset, Lincoln, and Sagadahoc counties. We are a private, nonprofit organization, with an annual budget of 32.9 million and 350 employees. KVCAP is headquartered in Waterville, with offices in Augusta, Skowhegan, Wiscasset, and several outreach locations. Since 1965, KVCAP has worked to eliminate poverty and build stronger communities by helping over hundreds of thousands of people improve their financial stability.

Since 1965, KVCAP has focused on creating solutions to the conditions of poverty in order to strengthen individuals, families and communities. We seek collaborative partnerships in the community to identify needs, coordinate resources, and creatively invest funding dollars to make the greatest, positive impact on the lives of the low-income families we serve. Our success is rooted in our ability to meaningfully involve low-income people in our programs, to mobilize public and private resources to support such programs, and to coordinate efforts throughout the community to improve delivery of services. KVCAP offers numerous programs to assist clients as they overcome the barriers to social and economic stability, and are as follows:

*Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, and preschool services for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years old in Northern Kennebec and Somerset counties
*Home visiting for parents of children prenatally to age 5 through Maine Families programming
*Transportation services - public transit through the Kennebec/Somerset Public Transit System and door-to-door services for medical appointments
*Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Councils offer parenting classes, concrete supports (diapers, wipes, formula, etc), and special events
*South End Teen Center offers a safe after school environment for youth in grades 6-12
*Resource Navigators accept referrals from other KVCAP programs to support clients in need of more intensive support in order to stabilize their lives
*Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides assistance to low-income homeowners and renters to help pay heating costs.
*Emergency Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) provides emergency heating assistance one time per heating season. *Low-Income Assistance Program provides help to low-income homeowners and renters with their electricity bills.
*Telephone Assistance Program (TAP) provides a monthly credit and/or assistance with connection of a telephone.
*Weatherization Services provide energy saving measures such as insulation or weather stripping.
*Central Heating Improvement Program (CHIP) provides repair or replacement of non-working or condemned heating systems to homeowners.
*Community Aging in Place offers services that allow community members to continue to live safely and comfortably at home
*Home Repair Services provides assistance to make essential home repairs or improvements, such as roofing, siding or windows or for health, safety and/or accessibility repairs.
*Homebuyer education, counseling, and supports
*Rental counseling
*Financial counseling offers free personal financial counseling and education for individuals and families.
*Real Estate Development including affordable apartments in Skowhegan, Fairfield and Hartland, affordable homes in Augusta's Cony Village, and purchase, renovation and sale of current existing housing stock.