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Community Action of Skagit County reports rising use of Anacortes resource center, new pilot and mobile services
Summary
Sandy Finney told council Community Action’s Anacortes Resource Center served about 20 people in late 2023, 328 last year and about 152 year-to-date through May; the group cited increased energy-assistance demand, new PSE-funded outreach including an August mobile unit, and a pilot serving up to 15 families.
Sandy Finney, chief strategy officer at Community Action of Skagit County, told the Anacortes City Council on July 6 that the Anacortes Resource Center has expanded local services and seen increasing demand for energy and utility assistance.
Finney said the center began operations late in 2023 and served roughly 20 people that year, served 328 people in 2024 and had served about 152 people year-to-date through the end of May. She credited additional funding from Puget Sound Energy for helping the agency expand outreach and energy-assistance work locally.
“We have an office here that has allowed us to be much more accessible to people that need that service,” Finney said. She described home-delivery of senior food boxes, expanded volunteer services for seniors and people with disabilities, and increased education-and-employment support in Anacortes.
Finney said Community Action recently received PSE grant funding for outreach and for a mobile service unit expected to begin operations in August to sign people up for services on site. She said PSE’s eligibility cutoff is about 80% of area median income, which is higher than LIHEAP thresholds and captures more households.
Finney also described a new ‘‘whole family’’ pilot (not a program but an approach) that will serve up to 15 families this year; the pilot includes a compensated parent advisory council and barrier-removal funds to support long-term economic mobility.
She thanked the council for approving CDBG public-service funds that will support local education and employment offerings; Community Action plans to increase the Anacortes employment specialist’s hours and look for public or nonprofit host sites for supported work placements.
During Q&A, Finney said much of the intake and eligibility work can be done by phone, but staff can assist residents with uploading paperwork at the Anacortes office so they avoid trips to Mount Vernon. She invited institutions and nonprofits to host supported-employment placements and said Community Action is coordinating outreach at the Anacortes Farmers Market.
What’s next: Finney said the agency will follow up with council and staff on program partnerships and confirm details about the new mobile unit and expanded local hours.
