ARP: Chester County PA, Investing to meet Community’s Mental Health Needs

Chester County Commissioner Josh Maxwell purposefully targeted American Rescue Plan funds with the goal of improving services to disproportionately impacted communities with key investments to improve public health. Nearly $13 million has been invested in behavioral and mental health initiatives that will support a three-pillar mental health response plan, including the Chester County 9-8-8 Mental Health Crisis Response system, mobile mental health crisis teams, and crisis stabilization centers. Additionally, $2.5 million was allocated to the Christiana Care West Grove Campus for capital improvement projects to help the hospital’s planned re-opening and returning much-needed services to residents.

ARP: Pittsburgh PA, Uses Federal Funds to Replace Lead Pipes

City Councilperson Erika Strassburger, who also serves as the Vice Chair of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s (PWSA) Board of Directors, helped steer American Rescue Plan dollars to lead line replacement efforts, including adding $18 million to the city’s effort to replace every lead water line. She also secured $2 million in ARP funds to implement her Lead Safety Bill, which will help advance efforts to achieve equity in healthy housing, set new citywide standards for lead inspection, and create safe environments for children and families. Already, city inspectors have performed lead dust wipe inspections on over 15 city facilities open to children, and in February 2023, PWSA reached a milestone by replacing its 10,000th line.

ARP: Everett Announced a Plan to Help Unhoused Residents Transition to Permanent Housing

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin announced a plan to purchase and convert a hotel into a bridge housing program to help unhoused residents transition to permanent housing. Franklin has prioritized addressing housing needs in the community and will use $9 million of American Rescue Plan funds for the project, which will also provide wraparound services to ensure Everett supports its most vulnerable residents. “Providing shelter for those in need and significantly reducing public safety challenges related to chronic homelessness is a top priority for Everett residents. Snohomish County’s purchase of the Days Inn will provide shelter to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. This is a necessary action to making all our residents safer,” Franklin said. 

ARP: Denver Proposed a Targeted Basic Income Program That Would Give $1,000 Monthly

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock proposed a targeted basic income program that would give $1,000 monthly to qualifying residents. He asked the City Council to dedicate $2 million of the remaining ARPA funds to women and families living in homeless shelters. Denver already has a UBI-inspired program that disburses monthly payments of $1,000 to 260 people, $500 to 260 people, and $50 to 300 people, funded through a $5.5 million allocation of the city’s budget, according to the Denver Voice. Hancock’s proposal would assist an additional 140 qualified residents to receive $1,000 monthly payments.

ARP: Michigan Invests $83 Million in Affordable Housing Developments

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist announced $83.8 million in grant funding from the Revitalization and Placemaking Program (RAP) for 22 statewide affordable housing and community development projects. The Michigan Strategic Fund provided $100 million in American Rescue Plan dollars to RAP, which supports infrastructure, housing, and revitalization investments across every region in the state. Eligible projects will promote population and tax revenue growth to address negative economic impacts of COVID-19 in downtowns, social zones and public spaces.

ARP: Columbus OH, Invests in Domestic Violence and Stalking Unit

Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein used $150,000 of American Rescue Plan dollars to stabilize his office’s budget and save the Legal Advocates position in the Domestic Violence and Stalking Unit. Klein’s concerns were realized as forced isolation and increased anxiety about food, housing, and employment during the pandemic led to a rise in domestic violence incidents. Advocates play a critical role, working directly with domestic violence victims through times of extreme trauma and anxiety–trauma and anxiety often stemming from violence amplified by the lingering stressors of COVID19.

ARP: Shreveport Announced a $5.3 Million Investment to Support Young People

Mayor Adrian Perkins announced a $5.3 million investment from American Rescue Plan funds to support young people in Shreveport — a direct result of feedback from community listening sessions. Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation will receive $3 million, the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana will receive $1.5 million, and Ronald McDonald House Charities will receive $800,000 for projects ranging from the construction of recreation facilities to providing for families with critically ill children.

ARP: Oakland County MI, Workforce Programs Helps Cover Costs of School/Trainings

Since launching a program in May 2022, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter‘s Oakland80 initiative continues to be successful in placing Career and Education Navigators throughout the county. By removing the barriers to education and training, the initiative has worked hand-in-hand with the Oakland County Michigan Works! local workforce development office to help county residents on their journeys toward successful careers. In their first seven months of working with residents, the Oakland80 navigators have connected with more than 700 residents at more than 200 events around Oakland County and provided in-depth counseling, coaching, and education services to almost 200 people.

Oakland County also allocated American Rescue Plan Act funding to provide direct education and employment supports to residents. Since November 2021, 379 people have received Supportive Services which removed 572 barriers which had prevented them from participating in education, training, and employment related activities. This effort has included support for educational materials, books, fees, housing, transportation, work-related tools and expenses, and more. Oakland County also initiated scholarship programs that not only cover the cost of education, but also the childcare costs that cause so many students to struggle to continue their studies. Since November of 2021, 642 people have received child care scholarships and 295 have gotten education scholarships.

Impact Testimony:

  • The navigators assisted a low-income single mother and post-secondary student, who was working part-time as a housekeeper. Because of COVID, the hospitality industry was hit hard, and the woman had her hours reduced. She had difficulty keeping up with payments and fell behind on her utilities. The staff was able to assist with supportive services and other resources so that she could stay in her housing, pay her utilities and continue her education and training. She received an associate’s degree last year, got a job as a Child Care Specialist and enrolled in a Bachelor of Social Work program in the fall. 
  • An unemployed youth completed a 12-week Robotics training at Oakland Community College that was paid for through a partnership with Oakland County Michigan Works! When he graduated from the training, he was offered a job as an auto body collision apprentice, with Oakland80 purchased the tools for him. He got the job once the apprenticeship was over.
  • A part-time employee and full-time post-secondary student was on the verge of having to drop out of school in her last semester of an associate’s degree program in nursing because of an accumulated student loan debt of more than $4,500. An honor student, Oakland80 and Michigan Works teamed up to help cover the tuition costs, fees, loan debt, books, testing and licensing. She received a Registered Nurse License from the State of Michigan in July and found employment at a hospital in August.

ARP: Respite for ME Grants Program Helping Family Caregivers

The Respite for ME Grants pilot program was successfully launched on October 1, 2022, and during the first quarter a total of 139 eligible family caregivers have accessed the program. Maine Representative Kristen Cloutier led the effort to create this pilot program, which provides caregivers with $2,000 grants and other services to better balance a job or other responsibilities with their caregiving duties. The Office of Aging and Disability Services, in partnership with community stakeholders, is working on an outreach campaign to connect more families with these much needed resources.

Impact Testimonial: One caregiver in Oxford County was approved for the program and within 9 days was able to be reimbursed for the removal of an outdated, unsafe bathtub to be replaced with a safe, new, walk-in shower including handrails. This home modification is allowing the caregiver to continue providing care for her spouse safely in their home.

ARP: Denver Designated $5 Million to Convert Hotel for Housing and $2 Million to Women and Families Experiencing Housing Insecurity

The Denver City Council and Mayor Michael Hancock have designated $5 million in American Rescue Plan funds to purchase and convert a hotel to house people experiencing homelessness and $2 million to provide monthly cash assistance to women and families experiencing housing insecurity. The hotel is currently used as a shelter, with plans to redevelop it into 200 permanent housing units. These efforts are part of Mayor Hancock’s proposed $254 million comprehensive homelessness initiative.

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