KINGWOOD -— The North Central West Virginia Community Action Association (NCWVCAA) has moved to downtown Kingwood.
Kim Gibson, community services assistant for NCWVCAA, said the nonprofit has relocated to 117 S. Price St., across the street from the courthouse.
Gibson said due to COVID-19, services are now being provided by appointment only. Intake information is taken when the client calls for the appointment instead of when they come into the office.
Clients going to NCWVCAA for an appointment must go through the first door and ring the bell.
“We keep a strict schedule. They must be here on time. Once an appointment is made we meet the client at the door,” Gibson said. “The client must bring proof of income, a termination notice if their visit is for utilities or rent, and proof of other pledges.”
A pledge is the amount of money another nonprofit is paying on the utility or rent bill.
She said if further information is needed or if there is an application to be filled out it is done outside on the benches in front of the building. Gibson said only one client at a time is allowed in the office.
NCWVCAA provides:
- emergency assistance for utility terminations.
- emergency food vouchers.
- some housing assistance for homeless or evicted clients.
- a gardening program April through May.
- the Forgotten Angel Program November through December. The program provides clothing and toys for children from birth to 18.
- the Case Management Program, which provides short-term assistance needed to stabilize crisis situations while also offering critical linkages to other mainstream community resources. The program can help a client find a job, educational opportunities, help write a resume and help clients with clothing for their job or job interviews.
- Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program, which provides services to very low-income veteran families living in or transitioning to permanent housing. Clients must provide a DD214 and proof of homelessness.
- the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, giving free income tax preparation services to low to moderate-income people and assisting eligible individuals in securing the Earned Income Tax Credit. This service is available in February and March only.
- Head Start, a collaboration between NCWVCAA and the Preston County Board of Education. It promotes school readiness and cognitive development of preschool children 3 to 5 years of age from income eligible families.
Catholic Charities Raymond Wolfe Center works with NCWVCAA to help clients pay rent and utility bills. Outreach Coordinator Don Maleta said Raymond Wolfe has cooperatively worked with NCWVCAA “for a long time.”
“If a client comes in with a $250 utility bill we can give them $100 toward it,” Maleta said. “If Community Action is pledging too, we call them and verify the amount they are paying.”
He then calls the utility company and verifies the client has enough pledges to keep the utility on for 30 days.
NCWVCAA is open 8 a.m.—4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For an appointment call 304-329-1028.
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