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CAMP Mission Statement
To reduce the impact of poverty on families and individuals by providing services and promoting institutional and community change through advocacy. To identify and address the causes of poverty and remove barriers to self-sufficiency faced by the low-income community. To assist the African-American community towards self-sufficiency and build bridges with other communities.
Organizational Structure
The Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP) is one of 31 community action agencies located in the State of Washington designed to fight the impact of poverty. For 39 years, CAMP has provided hope and resources for community residents in need. In our effort to combat poverty, we serve more than 15,000 people in excess of 40,000 times annually by carrying on the tradition for social change and self-sufficiency.
Through many programs and services, CAMP shelters the homeless, offers employment and training programs for the unemployed and under-employed, educates at-risk students, feeds the hungry, and keeps numerous families from going without heat during the fall and winter months.
CAMP operates from two service centers and several satellite offices. The CAMP legacy is chronicled in the life stories and testimonies of thousands of employees, volunteers, participants and beneficiaries. We accomplish our goals through the delivery of services in two major departments as follows:
Emergency Services
The Emergency Services Department administers the Energy Assistance, Food Bank, and Housing Assistance programs targeting low income Seattle residents whose income falls between 0%-150% of the federal Poverty Guidelines.
Energy Assistance
The Federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), targets households at 125% of the poverty guidelines providing heating bill assistance up to $750 annually; energy conservation education; support for window repair, chimney cleaning and furnace repair or replacement up to $2,500 and eviction prevention up to $500. Funds are available from mid-October through the end of June or until exhausted.
Puget Sound Energy’s year-round HELP program, provides assistance to PSE gas customers at 150% or below of the poverty guidelines with their home energy costs.
The Washington Consumer Energy Fund (WCEF) was established as an Area of Interest Fund with The Seattle Foundation in December 2003 by the Washington Attorney General. The Central Area Motivation Program (CAMP) partnered with the Energy Project, a consortium of community action agencies belonging to the Northwest Energy Coalition to be awarded $747,646.18 to be distributed to households at 200% and below of the federal poverty level over a two year period.
Food Bank
CAMP’s food bank distributes perishable and non-perishable nutritional bags of food for the most distressed residents in our community including families and seniors. We provide food for pick-up three times per week at our main location, and home delivery service twice per week for elderly and immobile clients. CAMP distributes approximately 500 bags of food per week.
Housing Assistance
The Housing Assistance program supplies emergency housing assistance with first month’s rental assistance and motel vouchers for families with minor children.
Social Services
The primary focus of Social Services is to assist people with necessary, everyday services obstructing them from acheiving everyday goals. The department offers driver’s license reinstatement assistance, job readiness training and job placement.
Re-Licencing Services
The Re-licensing program assists low-income residents in the greater Seattle area by reinstating driving privileges that have been revoked and/or suspended from unpaid traffic citations. The program conducts orientations and workshops, and offers support services to achieve full compliance with court mandates.
New-Entry Assistance Program (Employment Assistance)
The New-Entry program offers assistance for the formerly incarcerated population in the following areas: needs assessment, job search and placement services, as well as goal setting and educational assistance. Weekly support group services are provided in an effort to equip clients with the resources needed for success. |