Community Assistance
Program (CAP)
We’ve all been there at one time or another. Completing an application for the first time and trying to make sense of it all. Circling back repeatedly to confirm the information is correct before we submit it not to mention the pressure and stress we feel waiting for a decision. For many neighbors, applications can be:
- Complicated and difficult to understand
- Available only online or in English
- Time-consuming and overwhelming
This is where our Application Assistance team, also known as our Community Assistance Program, comes in. Their training, certification and expert knowledge on policy to best support neighbors in government program application process allows them to best support neighbors through the process.
Through discovery, our Navigators are able to access each family’s situation and refer them to additional programs and resources. The impact of these programs for families goes further than many programs.
For example, one SNAP application generates access to 972.6 meals or 1165.68 lbs over 6 months which is the equivalent of 7 full grocery carts for a family of 4.
These programs also generate meaningful economic benefit to the communities. Healthcare assistance dollars support local clinics and hospitals while nutrition benefits are spent at nearby grocery stores, strengthening the regional economy.
CAP provides support to neighbors to successfully navigate complex systems. Through providing multiple language support, explanation of documentation needed and knowledge of the forms, our team provides more people to apply who would otherwise be discouraged to try at all. We partner with trusted agencies who help us turn public programs from theoretically available into actually accessible, creating stability for families and drives lasting change.
