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Home > Community Development > Community Profiles > Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) > Community Organizations

Community Profile: Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

Community Organizations

This section provides information about affordable housing, social service, economic development, and community revitalization organizations in the area whose interests, activities, and initiatives improve the housing conditions and employment opportunities of residents. These groups represent potential partners for bankers seeking to more fully address the credit needs of each region's low- and moderate-income people and communities.

The information in this section is obtained directly from the websites of the community organizations.

• Blair County Community Action Agency
• Center for Independent Living of South Central Pennsylvania (CILSCPA)
• Habitat for Humanity of Blair County
• Housing Opportunities of Blair County, PA Inc.
• Improved Dwellings For Altoona, Inc. (IDA)
• Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc.

Blair County Community Action Agency

Mission

The Blair County Community Action Agency (BCCAA) uses federal, state, and local resources to address the multi-dimensional and dynamic influences that affect low-income and socially disadvantaged people living in Blair County.

Year of Origin

1965

Core Programs

• Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) - A program designed for those who are living paycheck-to-paycheck and living off of Section 8 (subsidized) rent. The primary objective of the FSS program is developing economic self-sufficiency for the participants through personal encouragement, counseling and guidance during their participation in this program.
• Housing Counseling - Provides pre-purchase, post-purchase, mortgage delinquency, and rental counseling.
• Energy Services - Helps curb bill payments by conserving energy, provides conservation education, promotes good bill payment habits, and provides bill subsidies.
• Family Savings Account (FSA) - A program to help qualified participants save money and receive a one to one match on their savings after a two-year period.
• Supportive Housing - Provides transitional assistance and supportive services for homeless individuals and families. Helps individuals learn the necessary skills to obtain and retain permanent housing.
• Employment/Training Services - Two programs (employment counseling services and the supported work program) aim to provide individuals with the necessary skills to obtain and retain employment.

Service Area

Blair County

Contact Information

Blair County Community Action Agency
2100 6th Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602
Phone: (814) 946-3651 or (800) 238-9763
Fax: N/A
E-mail: Info@blaircap.org
Website: http://www.blaircap.org/index.php

Center for Independent Living of South Central Pennsylvania (CILSCPA)

Mission

To empower people with disabilities to lead independent lives in their communities.

Year of Origin

1988

Core Programs

• Deaf Awareness and Action Program - Provides technical assistance that enables persons who are deaf and hard of hearing, their families, agencies and others who would like assistance or information, to inquire about services that may not be provided by others.
• Statewide Action Team (SWAT) - Administers a program designed to unite all persons with disabilities by providing effective implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Peer Counseling - Provides counseling aimed at enabling the consumer to help him or herself. The consumer establishes his/her own goals and, with the help of the peer counselor, works to achieve them.
• Skills Training - Provides training to help the disabled enhance their skills in order to assist them with performing daily tasks to improve quality of life.
• Provides information and referrals on adaptive equipment, housing, OVR, accessibility, legislation, Social Security work incentives, and other subjects of interests is available.
• Advocates on issues of immediate concern to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, such as work force issues, legislative rights and communication, and attitudinal barriers, that necessitate working with the private and public sectors of the community in an advocacy role.
  

Service Area

Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, and Somerset counties

Contact Information

CILSCPA
1603 Ninth Avenue
Altoona, PA 16602
Phone: (814) 949-1905
Fax: (814) 949-1909
E-mail: cilscpa@cilscpa.org
Website: www.cilscpa.org

Habitat for Humanity of Blair County

Mission

Habitat for Humanity Blair County is a 501(c)(3) ecumenical Christian charitable organization that exists to create affordable homeownership opportunities with and for low-income families.

Year of Origin

1988

Core Programs

Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans. The homeowners' monthly mortgage payments are used to build future Habitat houses.

Service Area

Blair County

Contact Information

Habitat for Humanity
101 Allegheny Street
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
Phone: (814) 695-3090
Fax: (814) 695-3509
E-mail: Info@habitatblaircounty.org
Website: www.habitatblaircounty.org

Housing Opportunities of Blair County, PA Inc.

Mission

To help low income first-time homebuyers in Blair County overcome obstacles to homeownership, such as debt, insufficient income, credit problems, and a lack of understanding of the home purchase and mortgage application processes.

Year of Origin

1993

Core Programs

• Homeownership Initiative Program: offers intensive, one-on-one counseling to income eligible households. Also works with banks to provide discounted mortgage rate funds to clients while using a revolving loan fund to provide low-interest loans for the balance of client's closing costs.
• Provides counseling as an approved agency for the Federal Home Loan Bank's First Front Door Program.

Service Area

Blair County

Contact Information

Housing Opportunities of Blair County, PA Inc.
1600 8th Avenue
P.O. Box 592
Altoona, PA 16603
Phone: (814) 944-9363
Fax: (814) 941-3708
Website: N/A

Improved Dwellings For Altoona, Inc. (IDA)

Mission

Nonprofit housing corporation that develops, rehabilitates, and manages subsidized housing for low-income and moderate-income elderly, families and people with disabilities.

Year of Origin

N/A

Core Programs

• Develops and rehabilitates housing for low- and moderate-income people.
• Operates elderly rental housing in 10 different housing complexes.
• Operates family rental housing in three housing complexes and four other scattered-site locations throughout Altoona.

Service Area

Blair County

Contact Information

Improved Dwellings For Altoona, Inc.
1600 8th Avenue
P.O. Box 592
Altoona, PA16603
Phone: (814) 944-9466
Fax: (814) 941-3708
Website: www.hso.blairco.org/Agencies/improveddwellings.html

Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc.

Mission

To assist individuals with disabilities obtain and maintain employment.

Year of Origin

1960

Core Programs

• Residential Services: provides funds for rent, household items, utilities, food, clothing, emergency housing, moving services, and personal finances.
• Community Services: provides skills and assistance to individuals in obtaining and maintaining employment.
• Behavioral Health Services: creates an individualized plan to help individuals develop adaptive behaviors and reduce problem behaviors that interfere with learning and community life.
• Children and Youth: provides safety, protection, and support services in a community home for children and adolescents requiring protective custody in Blair County. Three community homes are operated in Altoona.

Service Area

Adams, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Cumberland, Huntingdon, Jefferson, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Perry and York counties.

Contact Information

Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc.
Corporate/Centre Co.
341 Science Park Rd.
State College, PA 16803
Phone: (814) 238-3245
Fax: (814) 238-5117  
Website: http://www.skillsofcentralpa.org

• Last updated: Monday, August 11, 2008