Robert Gorman, chief executive officer of the United Way of Northern New York, provided an update on the Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative (ESPRI) in Watertown at the organization’s annual luncheon Tuesday.
He once again praised Assemblywoman Jenne for her work in getting the grant for Watertown. City officials then turned to the United Way to administer the program.
"She is the one who made sure Watertown got this money," Mr. Gorman, who has noted on previous occasions that the city was left off the state's initial list of recipients but Assemblywoman Jenne worked to get the money for the North Country.
Assemblywoman Jenne said the ESPRI program stems from a poverty fighting effort that started in Rochester.
"The effort of trying to put your arms around the issues of poverty was something that has been worked on in many communities, including right here in Watertown and Jefferson County," she said.
"There was a really intensive project in Rochester that got everyone excited because they were making progress and having good outcomes," she added.
The assemblywoman said Gov. Andrew Cuomo wanted to build on the success of the Rochester effort and grow similar programs around the state.
"The Governor decided that it just shouldn't be Rochester that had resources to focus on this issue. He decided to expand the program to other communities across the state. Unfortunately, Watertown was not on that list. Big cities were targeted," she recalled.
Assemblywoman Jenne noted the 2016 executive budget called for funding for the poverty reduction initiative to be awarded to Albany, Binghamton, the Bronx, Buffalo, Elmira, Hempstead, Jamestown, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Oneonta, Oswego, Syracuse, Troy and Utica.
"I come from good fighting stock here in the North Country and when we were in negotiations during the budget process I fought to make sure Watertown got a million dollars as well," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
She noted prior to being elected to the state Assembly she served on several non-profit agency boards, where she developed an understanding of the issues and challenges facing the community as well as the work of the nonprofits serving the region.
"I knew the caliber of the organizations here, and I knew, if given the opportunity, everyone would pull together and figure out some wonderful programs that would have a long-lasting effect in our community. It was without hesitation I could go to the mat and fight for Watertown," the assemblywoman said.
"I knew we would not let the state down. Give us the money, and we will do great things with it. Here we are now, the last group to be included on the list, and we are the first in the state in actively getting money out the door and helping people. I knew that's what we would do," Assemblywoman Jenne stressed.
She said non profits working to help their clients move out of poverty often face challenges due to the lack of funding or programs that have their funding streams discontinued.
"We just needed to have all of our abilities unleashed and getting the resources we need to let all the people in this room do the great work you know needs to be done," according to Assemblywoman Jenne.
"We are leading the state on this issue. We put all sorts of things that could hold us back behind us, and everybody is working together. That is what we are all about in the North Country," she added.
"Hats off to the United Way and all the partner agencies that have come together to make this a reality and so successful," Assemblywoman Jenne noted.
A local task force worked to identify high-need areas and develop recommendations for investments and other changes to reduce the number of individuals living in poverty. The second step was implementing the poverty reduction plans developed in the first phase, utilizing the ESPRI funding.
“Every family has different needs, and this plan tries to fill the gaps in existing programs and address other program shortcomings,” Asseblywoman Jenne said.
The four programs approved for funding in Watertown were:
• Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County, $196,000 - The funding will implement two training programs: One program will help community members realize the complexity of the issues surrounding poverty and how there is no single approach to overcome it. The second program will help individuals living in poverty take charge of their lives by developing strategies that can lead them to a better life.
• Watertown Urban Mission, $150,000 - The funding will be used for a "Wheels to Work" program, which will provide about 120 households with transportation services. The transportation services can range from obtaining a reliable used vehicle to auto insurance and vouchers for maintenance repairs or state inspections.
• Thousand Islands Habitat for Humanity, $300,000 - The funding will create "Pathway to Home Ownership," with support from the Development Authority of the North Country, Neighbors of Watertown and the City of Watertown. Homes in distressed areas will be purchased, rehabilitated and sold to low-income families.
• Jefferson County Department of Employment & Training, $175,000 - The funding will help implement the "Employer Resource Network" program, which will connect employers with success coaches that can assist employees who struggle with poverty.
The United Way has allocated $821,000 into these programs and spent $20,000 with the Watertown City School District to have Don Mesibov conduct workshops to train teachers to be more effective in teaching children who live in poverty.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with Kevin Jordan, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, earlier this week at the United Way of Northern New York luncheon.
• Community Action Planning Council of Jefferson County, $196,000 - The funding will implement two training programs: One program will help community members realize the complexity of the issues surrounding poverty and how there is no single approach to overcome it. The second program will help individuals living in poverty take charge of their lives by developing strategies that can lead them to a better life.
• Watertown Urban Mission, $150,000 - The funding will be used for a "Wheels to Work" program, which will provide about 120 households with transportation services. The transportation services can range from obtaining a reliable used vehicle to auto insurance and vouchers for maintenance repairs or state inspections.
• Thousand Islands Habitat for Humanity, $300,000 - The funding will create "Pathway to Home Ownership," with support from the Development Authority of the North Country, Neighbors of Watertown and the City of Watertown. Homes in distressed areas will be purchased, rehabilitated and sold to low-income families.
• Jefferson County Department of Employment & Training, $175,000 - The funding will help implement the "Employer Resource Network" program, which will connect employers with success coaches that can assist employees who struggle with poverty.
The United Way has allocated $821,000 into these programs and spent $20,000 with the Watertown City School District to have Don Mesibov conduct workshops to train teachers to be more effective in teaching children who live in poverty.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with Kevin Jordan, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, earlier this week at the United Way of Northern New York luncheon.
