Commission On Economic Opportunity Of Luzerne County

Programs: Housing and emergency services. Promotes stable housing services to low income working families with children, vulnerable fixed income senior citizens and veterans. Provides resolutions to short term housing needs to prevent homelessness in local communities. Provides guidance and assistance for other short term financial emergencies that allow families with children, senior citizens and veterans to remain in their homes. Program funding includes federal, state and local funding sources. Rental and relocation assistance provided to 3,489 local, low income working families with children, senior citizens and veterans. Emergency sheltering to 59 local families with children. Mortgage and/or foreclosure assistance to 184 local families with children, senior citizens and veterans. Short term financial assistance provided to 310 families with children, senior citizens and veterans which enabled them to maintain their permanent housing.

weatherization and energy assistance. Promote residential energy conservation and health & safety, and address short-term energy crises for low-income families, senior citizens, those with disabilities and veterans faced with broken heating equipment, lack of fuel, or utility service termination. Program funding sources include federal, state, as well as various utility companies and private donors. 5,318 families with children, senior citizens , the disabled and veterans qualified for emergency heating assistance though the liheap crisis program ; 9,356 low income families with children, senior citizens , the disabled and veterans enrolled in utility customer assistance programs; 310 families were provided with furnace repair/replacement to restore heat to their homes; 720 families received weatherization measures.

food bank/nutrition services. Distributes donated and purchased food product to a network of 145 charitable organizations. Promotes healthy nutrition among low income and vulnerable populations in our 4 county region, especially children and senior citizens. Program funding includes federal, state and private donors; including food manufacturing companies, businesses, and individuals. The food bank received 5,478,983 lbs. Of donated food product valued at $9,149,901; supplemental food boxes provided to approx. 1,900 seniors monthly; agency food pantry served 5,707 families; snap assistance to 209 families; nutrition education for 8,505 children at 15 schools; summer meals at 73 sites and after school meals at 28 sites, totaling 109,927 meals and 49,982 snacks. Thanksgiving food served 8,492 households.

donations and grants and housing