Hope Manor Apartments to Provide Job Training, Support Services

CHICAGO - October 14, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $4 million state investment to help build a housing development that will provide quality, affordable apartments and supportive services for 80 Veterans who are homeless. Approximately 75 jobs will be created during the construction of Hope Manor Apartments in Chicago.

"Our Veterans deserve to have a place to call home after sacrificing so much for our nation," said Governor Quinn. "The Hope Manor Apartments will provide safe homes for our Veterans and ensure that they receive the skills and support necessary to find stability."

Hope Manor will provide supportive housing for up to 80 Veterans who are homeless. The four-story building on Chicago's West Side will include 30 studio apartments, and 10 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom suites. Employment readiness classes, job training and coaching, computer training, a business resource center, a health and wellness clinic, recovery resources, individual counseling and case management will be available on the first floor of the development. Construction is expected to be completed in November 2011.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the state's housing agency, invested approximately $4 million in federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding and Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credits to build the development. The federal tax credits will generate an additional $8.8 million in private equity for construction of the building.

"Hope Manor Apartments demonstrates how important supportive housing is to end homelessness," said IHDA Executive Director Gloria L. Materre. "By investing in this development, we are getting our Veterans off the streets and giving them hope."

Developed by the Volunteers of America of Illinois, the Hope Manor Apartments will also be financed with a $1 million U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grant, and a $174,000 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant. The City of Chicago donated the property to build Hope Manor, which will include a "green" roof and other environmentally-friendly features.

"Many Veterans continue to need facilities that provide supportive housing and services that allow them the opportunity to reach their fullest potential," said Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Dan Grant. "We salute and congratulate Volunteers of America for helping to fill this need with Hope Manor Apartments."

Hope Manor Apartments is the latest Illinois development to break ground as a result of federal housing stimulus dollars created by ARRA. To date, ARRA has provided a jumpstart to construction of 2,646 affordable rental homes, creating more than 3,000 jobs across Illinois.

Veterans represent up to 15 percent of America's homeless population. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 100,000 Veterans are homeless any given night.

For additional information on statewide resources available to Veterans, visit Veterans.Illinois.gov.

 

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October 7, 2010

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, co-chairs of the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth, today released a "Call to Action" set of policy options to build on successful policy improving the lives of youth in foster care.

The Call to Action release occurs on the second anniversary of the enactment of the bipartisan Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008, the most significant child welfare bill to be enacted in more than a decade.

"One of the goals of the Caucus on Foster Youth is to hear directly from the youth in foster care about the policies that affect them," Grassley said.  "They're telling us that some key improvements have been very helpful, but there are still gaps in services and persistent problems that a combination of policy changes and citizen involvement can ease.  The Call to Action kicks off the next step in the discussion of how to improve the quality of life for foster youth."

"We see the Call to Action as a way to help lawmakers implement polices to improve our broken foster care system," Landrieu said. "With more than 25,000 young adults aging out of care each year, we cannot fail these youth. Yet, we cannot expect them to succeed when less than half of aged-out youth graduate from high school and so few are provided sufficient support. As Members of Congress we rely on these youths to tell us what issues are important to them.  Their input is critical to translate those issues and concerns into meaningful legislation. They need to know that we are dedicated to looking out for their best interests and working to help connect them with loving, caring families."

The Call to Action addresses issues associated with group homes, congregate care, an over-reliance on psychotropic medications, sibling connection, youth engagement, mentoring, pregnant and parenting teens, family preservation activities and child welfare financing.

The document builds on improvements in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, which provided additional federal incentives for states to move children from foster care to adoptive homes, expanded adoption assistance to all special needs foster youth, allowed states to extend care to youth up to age 21, allowed for federal reimbursement for kinship care, and made health and education improvements for youth in foster care.  Grassley helped lead the effort to enact the legislation.

In 2009, building on the success of the 2008 act, Grassley, along with Landrieu, established the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth.  The caucus has sponsored a series of working sessions with the goal of assembling options for the next steps in child welfare reform. To an unprecedented degree, the caucus has engaged current and former foster youth in these working sessions.

Last Friday, Grassley and Landrieu appeared on an episode of the national "Dr. Phil" show that highlighted the forthcoming Call to Action and encouraged viewers to learn more about the issues facing youth in care and youth transitioning out of care and possibly volunteer as youth advocates.

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Tyson Foods Lends Helping Hand in Fight Against Hunger

Tyson Foods donates more than 14 tons of protein to River Bend Foodbank in honor of its 10^th anniversary in the fight against hunger

MOLINE, Ill., Oct. 1, 2010 - An estimated 5.7 million people receive emergency food assistance each week, and more than one in every three households experience very low food security, according to the 2010 Hunger in America Report. Today, Tyson Foods donated over 28,000 pounds of much-needed protein to River Bend Foodbank, a member of Feeding America. The donation was made in honor of the company's month-long celebration of its 10thanniversary of active support for hunger relief nationwide.

"This significant food donation from Tyson will allow us to impact lives when the need for food has never been greater," said Tom Laughlin, executive director of River Bend Foodbank. "Donations of poultry and other high-protein foods are especially valuable as they allow us to provide our agencies with more healthy, nutritious options.

"September is Hunger Action Month and Feeding America is asking all Americans to take action to fight domestic hunger. Throughout Hunger Action Month, Feeding America's nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, including the River Bend Foodbank, are calling upon communities to take action through the "30 Ways in 30 Days" campaign. Whether it's by advocating and raising awareness, making donations, or giving your time and energy, they urge everyone to find a way to make a difference.

One in six Americans is going hungry. Over the past 10 years, the number of families accessing food shelves has increased by 50 percent. In 2009, the River Bend Foodbank distributed more than 6.3 million pounds of food in its fight against hunger and served over 10,000 people each week. River Bend Foodbank serves over 300 agencies across 22 counties in both Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

"There are millions of hard-working adults, children and seniors who simply cannot make ends meet and are faced with the realities of hunger," said Donnie Smith, Tyson president and CEO.  "Many people don't realize the scope of hunger in their own community.  We hope that by making this donation, we're not only helping feed some people, but also are making more people aware of hunger in the Moline area."

Since 2000, Tyson Foods has been a leader in the fight against hunger. The company is actively engaged in food-donation events and fund-raising activities year-round to benefit those in need. The protein given by Tyson today brings the company's total in-kind donations since 2000 to more than 76 million pounds. This milestone equates to more than 296 million meals donated to food banks and agencies serving local communities around the country. Last year alone, Tyson donated nearly eight million pounds of protein to Feeding America. For more information on how to get involved in the fight against hunger, go to http://www.tysonhungerrelief.com

River Bend Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organization in the Quad Cities and surrounding communities, distributing 6.3 million pounds of food annually to more than 300 charitable feeding programs throughout a 22 county service area in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. The Foodbank also operates four Kids Café sites serving over 45,000 free meals to children each year, the Backpack Program which provides over 1,200 Quad City children with nourishing food to take home on the weekends during the school year and the Mobile Food Pantry which directly feeds thousands of families.

Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN - News), founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500.  The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and services to customers throughout the United States and more than 90 countries. The company has approximately 117,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.

 

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Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to Announce Recovery Act Funding For Rural Library Projects in 30 States Throughout the Country

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2010 - TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce funding to build and enhance 129 rural libraries in 30 states. These library projects will provide rural residents with computer access, modern equipment and new training and educational opportunities.  The projects are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) under USDA Rural Development's Community Facilities program.

States benefiting from this announcement include Ala., Alaska., Cali., Colo., Del., Fl., Hawaii, Iowa, Ind., Kan., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., Miss., N.H., N.Y., N.C., N.J., N.M., Nev., Okla., S.C., Tenn., Texas, Utah, Va., Vt., Wash., and W.V.