“The Resource Center will not only do a lot to increase access to services for people in Anacortes,” said Sandi Phinney, Division Director at Community Action, who is a resident of Anacortes, “but it will also support coordination and communication with other agencies providing housing, basic needs and behavioral health services. Partnership is essential to our collective success. Community Action is careful to not duplicate services, but rather add to the great work of the Anacortes Family Center, Salvation Army, churches and many others who are vital players in supporting Anacortes individuals and families.”
Since 1979, Community Action of Skagit County has helped stabilize hard-working families challenged with making ends meet. The agency also equips people to get ahead on their goals with education, job skills and financial resources. Currently, Community Action operates Resource Centers in Mount Vernon, Concrete, as well as Skagit Vets Connect in Burlington and many other services and locations for special needs.
“All these services are already available to everyone in Skagit by phone, email, online, and in person,” said Phinney. “The new Anacortes Resource Center makes it easier for more of our neighbors to navigate hard times.”
Current Community Action services available to Fidalgo households include: Energy assistance and other ways to pay the bills; Basic Food (SNAP) application assistance; help for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and families with children; WIC (Women, Infant & Children Program); monthly senior food box delivery; job prep and employment services; and more.
Community Action’s programs such as Coordinated Entry for homeless services, Street Outreach Team, and Recovery Navigator Programs have partnered with local housing and homeless service providers, law enforcement, and Skagit County Public Health to build relationships with neighbors without homes, walking alongside them to keep them safe and alive until ready to opt into housing and recovery programs. Volunteers with Seniors & Disabled and Medicaid Transport have helped low-income seniors live independently at home, and patients to access life-saving care.
“Community Action has been here in Anacortes all along,” Phinney said. “This new Resource Center is just one more way to help.”
All of Community Action’s Resource Centers provide:
- Information & Referral: To Community Action programs and dozens of partner agencies helping access to food and nutrition; housing information; physical and behavioral health services; English language, GED, and financial literacy education; job prep and employment programs; childcare; and more.
- Application Assistance: For Basic Food (SNAP); WIC; Energy Assistance; Working Families Tax Credit; senior food box delivery; and more.
• Care Coordination: Holistic case management for eligible households to help them set goals, overcome barriers, stabilize housing, access food, and getting ahead on what matters most to them. - Help for Special Populations: Families with children; seniors; adults with disabilities; Medicaid patients in need of transportation; veterans and their families; and others.
- Homeless Services: Through Resource Centers and out in the field, Community Action’s Outreach Program meets people without homes where they are, and walks alongside them to connect to Community Action and partner agencies’ resources, housing and recovery programs.
Community Action’s Resource Centers do not directly offer childcare; after-hours emergency services; or medical, dental or behavioral healthcare.
How can you help? Stay tuned for the grand opening of the storefront. Until the storefront is officially open, current referrals can be sent to (360) 416-7585 or Anacortes@CommunityActionSkagit.org.
“And most of all, if you want to find out how to help or volunteer, get in touch at VolunteerCenter@CommunityActionSkagit.org,” said Phinney. “Volunteers will help us extend hours and services of the new Community Action Anacortes Resource Center.”
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