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Community Action of Skagit County reports rising use of Anacortes Resource Center, outlines mobile outreach and pilot supports
Summary
Sandy Finney of Community Action told the Anacortes council the Resource Center served about 20 people in late 2023, 328 people last year and roughly 152 people year-to-date through May; speakers highlighted increased Puget Sound Energy funding for energy assistance, a mobile service unit due in August, and a small pilot serving up to 15 families.
Sandy Finney, chief strategy officer at Community Action of Skagit County, told the Anacortes City Council on Tuesday that the Anacortes Resource Center has expanded services since opening in late 2023 and is increasingly serving seniors, families and people with disabilities.
"We started in 2023 towards the end of the year, serving approximately 20," Finney said. "Last year, we served 328 people, and we're at about 152 people year to date as of the end of May." She said those figures include people served through energy and utility assistance, food box distribution, volunteer services for seniors and employment programs.
Finney said Community Action has received increased funding from Puget Sound Energy (PSE) for outreach and energy assistance, which has helped more residents access discounts and services they qualify for. She described an anecdote in which a local resident told her PSE-funded energy assistance had allowed them to stay in their home.
The organization plans several service expansions in Anacortes: increased local hours for an employment specialist paid for by Community Action, a mobile service unit funded by a PSE grant expected to begin operations in August for outreach and on-site sign-ups, and an upcoming Anacortes services page on the Community Action website. Finney also described a new "whole family" pilot (not a standalone program) that will serve up to 15 families with compensating a parent advisory council and barrier-removal funds to support long-term economic mobility.
Finney thanked the council for approving CDBG public-service funds to support local education and employment programming and noted that the resource center will use those funds for services provided in Anacortes. She said the center continues to coordinate with the Anacortes Family Center and other local partners. Finney also announced that Carson Hansen joined Community Action as community engagement director and would be working locally.
During a council Q&A, members asked how residents access energy assistance and whether city utility-bill reduction information is being shared with clients. Finney described a mix of phone and in-office appointments that allow staff to assist callers with online processes and upload paperwork to the county system so clients need not travel to Mount Vernon. She said she would confirm whether city utility-bill discount information is being consistently conveyed to people who use the Resource Center.
Finney declined to provide detailed program budgets during the presentation; she noted that some funding streams are provided by PSE grants and other county or federal sources and that some eligibility thresholds (for example, PSE-funded assistance) follow area median income rules.
