This June, Community Action Partnership of Madison County finalized construction on a new four-apartment complex for unhoused families in Madison County. The building consists of two- and three-bedroom fully furnished apartments available to Department of Housing and Urban Development-defined homeless families who do not have shelter or resources to stabilize their housing. They may stay while they work with a caseworker who will help them to re-group, find employment and other means to assist them.

The families may be encountering unemployment, family dissolution, domestic violence, mental health or substance abuse issues, loss of housing, lack of transportation and isolation from the community they are trying to raise their children in.

Since June of 2016, CAP has served 10 families (consisting of 34 individuals) — some have moved to permanent housing and some are still working on their goals. There has been 98 percent occupancy since opening. The financial needs of the program continue to grow and they are unfunded. New York state and other grantors require that CAP raise funds to meet these needs.

The immediate needs consist of: emergency meals, set up groceries, hygiene and cleaning products, transportation costs and on-going maintenance of the facility. This holiday season you may be faced with a dilemma: what to give that hard-to-shop-for person. Honor that person with a paver engraved with their name, or make a donation to CAP. They will receive confirmation and recognition from CAP before the holidays, or a card will be sent to you to put under the tree.

CAP asks that everyone consider this option and check off those “gifts” you have to shop for. Don’t just buy local — give local. All donations are for the benefit of families in Madison County.