Q & A with Frank Taylor, Executive Director
Macomb County Community Services Agency

 

Macomb County Community Services Agency (MCCSA) is a Community Action Agency and department of Macomb County government. It provides a network of comprehensive educational, economic and social services to needy Macomb County residents to diminish the causes and effects of poverty. MCCSA was established in 1964 and strives to continually respond to meet the needs of the community and the people we serve.

What does Macomb County Community Services Agency do?
We provide economic and social services to help people in need. We help thousands of families and individuals in Macomb County each year with emergency and supplemental support services.

The need in the community right now is great. For example, the number of people Macomb County Community Services Agency (MCCSA) helped with emergency food last year was up 40% from the previous year.

Can you tell me about the services for people who might be struggling in the current economic climate?

With the current economy and high unemployment in Macomb County, we are seeing more people who need help. For many people, it is the first time they have ever needed to ask for assistance to get by.

We help with basic needs like emergency food and utilities. If someone needs food, there are 55 Macomb Food Program pantries in Macomb County that can provide a supply of food quickly and easily. All someone needs to do is call the United Way 2-1-1 phone line and they will be referred to a pantry in their area to pick up a supply of food. The only requirement for this program is being a Macomb County resident.

We also help eligible people with utility shut-offs and rent or mortgage assistance through our Community Action Centers. Our Community Action Centers can also register people for monthly supplemental food distribution programs to help people stretch their food budgets.

How are you meeting the increased need in Macomb County?

MCCSA is a recipient of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding as part of the federal stimulus program. Funding in specific areas has allowed us to expand our weatherization program to serve more people and hire additional staff to assist with increased demand at the Community Action Centers.

We have also received funding to increase emergency food distribution and upgrade our freezer capacity to provide more frozen food to the food pantries.

Even with improvements funded by ARRA, we are still unable to help every person in need in the community. We work closely with many of the other human service providers in Macomb County to provide appropriate referrals and let people know that even if we are unable to help, there may be other options available.

Do you have programs that provide help when someone isn’t in an emergency situation, but needs support to make ends meet?

The weatherization assistance program is available to help qualified people lower their utility bills. The weatherization program installs energy efficient measures in a home and can lower utility bills by up to 30%. These savings can then be used toward other expenses. Weatherization may include installing insulation and other small measures up to larger work like furnace replacement. Eligibility for this program is based on the household’s income, and people should contact their Community Action Center to apply.

Our agency also administers the Head Start program in Macomb County. Head Start is a federally funded free preschool program for children from eligible low income families. This program gives a child a “head start” on learning and involves parents in their child’s education from an early age.

We also provide limited transportation services to people who have no other way to get to essential medical appointments such as chemotherapy and dialysis treatments.

Macomb County has a growing senior population. Do you have programs that specifically address the needs of senior citizens?

We have several programs specifically for people over age 60. The most well known is the Meals on Wheels program which delivers hot lunch meals Monday through Friday to homebound seniors. In addition, one of our best kept secrets is the Dining Senior Style program. This program has locations throughout Macomb County where anyone over age 60 is welcome to dine weekdays at lunchtime.

We also have a Senior Chore Service that provides grass cutting, snow removal, minor home repair, and home injury control services to eligible senior citizens.

Senior citizens are also welcome to access other services for people of all ages such as home weatherization and food programs.

If someone would like to help people in need, what can they do?

We always need volunteers to deliver Meals on Wheels. You can deliver meals right in your neighborhood. Volunteers deliver meals Monday through Friday at lunchtime throughout Macomb County. Volunteers can sign up online by clicking here or calling 586-469-5228.