Your Community in Action!
By ACSET Community Action Agency
Imagine you are a single parent. You’re trying to raise your children and maintain a home on your own. You’re working toward a college degree to improve the outlook for your family. You find yourself having to choose between keeping the heat on and feeding your kids. What would you do?
ACSET Community Action Agency (CAA) is here to help people get through the tough times. For example, when Shanda came to us for help, our utility assistance program was able to keep the heat, water and electricity on for her family.
“Each time I found myself in a position where I was unable to pay these bills due to a decrease in income, unexpected car repairs, [and] increased insurance premiums, the ASCET program was there for my family… As a single parent and college student I am grateful for the support that the ACSET program provided, so that my family could weather the struggling times we faced…”
– Shanda, ASCET Client
Unfortunately, Shanda’s story is a reality for many in our community. The American Community Survey estimates that poverty impacts 15% of the population in Kent County. Even more concerning, over 20% of kids under the age of 18 are living below the poverty line.
There is a real need for assistance, especially for single women with children. From 2008 to 2012, nearly 60% of all households living in poverty in Kent County were headed by females. That is why CAA gears services toward these households whenever possible. To learn more about the basic needs of our community and how your CAA is addressing them, view our most recent Community Needs Assessment at www.communityactionkent.org/about/.
— Your Community in Action! is provided by ASCET Community Action Agency. To learn more about how they help meet emergency needs and assist with areas of self-sufficiency, visit www.communityactionkent.org.
