Important Information about HEAP and the Winter and Summer Crisis Programs

The Regular E-HEAP season comes to an end today!!! Your customers who have still not turned in their application for Regular HEAP should do so immediately, the deadline is April 15. For more information on important utility assistance deadlines, and for information about the potential impact of federal budget cuts on the upcoming Summer Crisis Program, click HERE If you have updates to share with the OBB Central Region send them to Zach Reat at zach@oashf.org

Now Hiring: AmeriCorps VISTA Community Organizer for Central Ohio

Here is the posting on Idealist:

http://www.idealist.org/view/volop/5ZkbtJwKn5sP/

The AmeriCorps VISTA program is a national service program dedicated to fighting poverty. VISTA members commit to serve for a full year at a nonprofit organization or agency. Members work within the community to fight poverty from multiple fronts: illiteracy, hunger, improve health services, increase access to community resources, and much more! Serving in the VISTA program allows you to make a difference within your community; gain new skills and experiences; and has amazing networking opportunities. VISTA is a full-time position that comes with multiple benefits, including health coverage.

The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF) VISTA program focuses on increasing the financial security of low-income community members by assisting them in accessing public benefits and tax credits and by increasing financial literacy. VISTA members achieve this through development and maintenance of The Benefit Bank sites. The Benefit Bank is a free, secure, web-based software that allows trained, certified counselors to screen clients on a variety of Ohio public benefits including Food Stamps, WIC, Medicaid and Ohio Works First as well as filing federal and state taxes. Once the client's pre-eligibility is determined, a complete application is printed and ready to be submitted at the local Department of Job and Family Services.

We are currently recruiting VISTA members to be “community organizers”. In that position you will help current Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) sites expand their capabilities by implementing the OBB Direct Access program; continue efforts in recruiting educational institutions as OBB referral organizations and counselor-assisted sites; aid OBB sites in fostering a cohesive relationship with the county Departments of Job & Family Services to reduce the barriers to receiving public benefits; connect OBB sites with other community resources such as banks, credit unions and county extension offices to provide wrap-around services; recruit & train community organizations, staff & volunteers as OBB counselors; prepare reports on the economic impact of the project; fundraising, food drives, grant research & writing and other capacity-building projects specific to the assignment site.

How to apply:

1.       Go to www.americorps.gov>
2.       Click on “advanced opportunity search”
3.       Click “program type”, VISTA
4.       Type under “program name”, OASHF
5.       Select “OASHF- Columbus, OH”

Contact:
Maureen Ringlein, VISTA Leader | mringlein@oashf.org
51 N High Street
Columbus OH 43215
614-221-4336
www.oashf.org

Great News for Uninsured Ohioans!

This e-mail came to me today from UHCAN Ohio with this attachment:

My name is Mallory Greenham, and I am an Information and Referral Associate here at UHCAN Ohio, in Columbus, as well as a active HarvestCorps member. I am reaching out to inform you of this wonderful new service for all Ohioans, UHCAN Ohio’s Helpline. You may have already received our information, but just in case, I am attaching our flyer. Please feel free to distribute it your OBB counselors or anyone else who you think may have clients who would benefit from our services. If you have any questions about the Helpline and the services we offer I would be happy to answer them!

Mallory D. Greenham
Information & Referral Associate, UHCAN Ohio
AmeriCorps Member, The Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks

UHCAN Ohio
370 South Fifth Street Ste G3
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614.456.0060 Ext 233
Fax: 614.456.0059
mgreenham@uhcanohio.org

Make sure that your clients are aware of this important resource, keep up the good work Mallory!

Jail n Bail

A Benefit Bank site in Central Ohio has found a really creative way to do a fundraiser.  They are "jailing" staff and volunteers, and asking for "bail" to get them out.  The event is happened on April 1st.  While I do think it would be quite funny to tell everyone I know on April 1st that I am in jail and need bailed out, Heather and I (Sarah) are in training all week so neither of us can help out.  If anyone out there wants to be involved in the Jail n Bail with T.O.U.C.H. (a prison re-entry organization), here are a couple ways you can get involved:

1) Register to be "locked up" on the day of the event and raise your "bail" by calling people you know to donate. I am attaching a registration packet if you would like this to do this option.
2) Register to be "locked up" right now and raise your bail from home (we have an email template for that that you can send to people)
3) Donate to my (Lena) bail. I am jailed ahead of time for being guilty of "overuse of deadlines" and need to raise $1,000 bail. You can help bail me out by going to www.touchimp.org and clicking on the "Donations" tab which will take you to PayPal.

SSI Ohio Project Update

The SSI Ohio Project, administered by the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio (COHHIO), helps individuals 18 and older who are dealing with homelessness and/or mental health issues apply for SSI and SSDI and other benefits. If you know someone who needs assistance applying for SSI/SSDI benefits you may now use the Site Locator to find an SSI Specialist.  Be sure to check the SSI/SSDI box on the right side of the page.  Here is the SSI Ohio Specialists for Columbus:     Community Shelter Board in Partnership with YWCA Wings Specialist: Meridith Bardus YWCA Columbus 65 S. 4th Street 614-224-9121 ext 1273 Mbardus@ywcacolumbus.org  (Only accepts referrals from Community Shelter Board agencies)

OBB Services offered to Ex-Offenders: OPLC Event

Public Benefits Legal Information Presentation for Ex-Offenders

• This legal information session is open to the public, but some of the information may be geared  toward exoffenders.
• This legal information session is FREE!
• Snacks and drinks will be available at no charge.
• All attendees will be provided with useful printed materials to take home.

Date: Wednesday, March 9
Time: 6:30 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.
Location: United Way of Central Ohio
360 S. Third Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215

The Ohio Poverty Law Center (OPLC) and the Franklin County Reentry Task Force present a FREE reentry-focused legal information session for ex-offenders.

An OPLC Staff Attorney will present information on public benefit programs, such as what is available, who is eligible, and what to do if you are denied.

Ohio Benefit Bank Counselors will be available to check eligibility and submit applications for public benefits such as food stamps, cash assistance, medical coverage, and more.

Champaign County Service Prodivers: Event

(Click the image to view a larger version in your browser)

To register as a resource information provider, please complete the section below and email to Carlene Sands carlene@ctcn.net no later than March 25th. Please put Project Connect Registration in the subject line.

Table and chair(s) will be provided. Being ready to start at 5 pm is appreciated.  You may set up as early as 12:00 if you wish.

My Name/Title:

Name of my agency:

Services that you provide:

Person(s) who will be present:

Phone:

Email: 

Do I need table space that is against a wall?

Do I need electricity? 

Any other comments, questions, etc:

Woohoo Central Ohio!

Did you all see this in the weekly Tax Update Email?! Central Ohio Benefit Bank sites are doing AMAZING work!

Tax Site Spotlight:

• With the help of just four OBB counselors The Salvation Army of Marion, Ohio filed 121 state and federal returns last week. More than 85% of these were completed by just two counselors. Great work!

Do you know a tax counselor or tax site that is doing really great things this tax season? Reply to this e-mail (cambrose@oashf.org) with their name, organization, and why they are so great and you may see them in next week's Spotlights!

http://who-is-awesome.com/