On any given day, hundreds of people may cross the threshold of the Community Action Partnership of Madison County (CAP) in Canastota. But it wasn’t always easy. Once housed in a small office, its old location was not sufficient to meet the needs of its nearly 12,000 low-income clients.
A Community Foundation grant helped CAP build a new 4,500 square foot modular office building, more than quadrupling its available space. The resulting community center now serves as a central location for support and resources that help people realize their strengths, make good choices and lift themselves out of poverty.
Multiple programs in the areas of housing assistance, early childhood and family & youth are now centralized. The new building offers a place where CAP consumers can come together for support and access community resources in a safe environment. Collaboration abounds as other human service groups are also taking advantage of this centralized location and private rooms to meet with clients. The next phase of the project – transitional shelter apartments for the homeless – will be built alongside the center.
The staff of Madison County CAP imagined a great dream – a centralized location that could serve its clients holistically. Now that vision has come true. As CAP staff see their clients making use of the full range of services in the convenience of one location, they know that great things are possible.
