A Message from CEO & President
MISSION FIRST: BRINGING WARMTH, SAFETY, AND PEACE OF MIND THIS WINTER
Dear Community Action Family,
As the crisp autumn air settles across Southern Ohio and the leaves begin to change, we are reminded that a new season is upon us. In our personal lives, October brings beautiful scenery and pumpkin patches. But for the vulnerable familes, infants, and seniors we serve, falling temperatures signal the arrival of a stressful, challenging time of year.
As the cold weather approaches, the cost of keeping a home safe and warm rises dramatically. For a family living a tighter budget or a senior on a fixed income, a single spike in a utility bill can force a heartbreaking choice between buying groceries, purchasing lifesaving medication, or turning on heat.
This month marks the official kickoff of our heavy winter preparation season. Our Community Services department is stepping directly onto the frontline to ensure no neighbor in our communities has to make that choice.
Short Term Relief and Long-Term Solutions
Within our Community Services department, we tackle seasonal energy burdens from two critical angles: immediate financial crisis relief and permanent, structural solutions.
Through our Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) initiatives, our staff provide immediate safety and peace of mind by helping families cover utility costs. At the same time, our Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) - also operated out of the Community Services department - delivers long-term relief. By providing energy-efficient upgrades directly to homes in Pike County, our weatherization teams permanently lower utility bills, fix hidden safety hazards, and make local homes safer and more comfortable for years to come.
When we insulate a ceiling, repair a furnace, or assist a household with winter heating costs, the positive ripple effect is felt across our entire agency:
We keep children safe: A warm, well-insulated home ensures that the infants and toddlers in our Early Childhood program stay healthy, get good sleep, and arrive at our classroom ready to learn. We protect public health: Drafty, freezing homes lead to respiratory illness and worsened chronic conditions. By maintaining a warm living space, we actively help our Valley View Health Centers medical teams prevent avoidable seasonal health crises.
We safeguard our seniors: Warm homes, combined with the emergency food and home-delivered meals from our Senior Programs, allow our older adults to winterize safely and age in a place with dignity.
A Shared Responsibility for Referrals
While our Community Services and Weatherization teams manage the complex compliance and physical labor of these critical energy programs, identifying the families who need them is a responsibility we all share.
Poverty can be quiet, and many people are hesitant to ask for help. You might notice a patient at a health clinic mentioning their heat is broken. You might hear a parent at a Head Start drop-off worrying about a drafty home. A transit driver might talk to a regular passenger who is struggling to afford fuel.
No matter what department you work in - frontline, fiscal, IT, or facilities - you are an ambassador for our mission. If you encounter a family or individual worried about winter heating or home efficiency, please guide them to our Community Services department. Your referral could keep a family safe this winter.
Living Our Values: Lead with Empathy
One of our core strategic values is to lead with empathy. Navigating utility crises or living in a cold house can be incredibly stressful and overwhelming for our clients. Coming to our office for help takes a great deal of courage. When we greet them with an empathetic ear and a calm, reassuring presence, we lift a massive burden off their shoulders before the paperwork is even printed.
Thank you for your hardwork, your vigilance, and your continued commitment to keeping our communities safe, warm, and secure. I am incredibly proud of how this family steps up every single year to sheild our neighbors from the winter storms.
Please stay safe, take care of one another, and keep focusng on our mission.
With deep gratitude,
Keith Pitts
CEO & President