For four decades, Olympic Community Action Programs — better known as OlyCAP — has provided a wide array of services for residents in Jefferson and Clallam counties.
The largest nonprofit agency on the North Olympic Peninsula, “we view our job not as providing handouts to people in need, but rather helping people become self-sufficient,” says OlyCAP Deputy Director Timothy L. Hockett.
“We handle the present problem — but also coach and support people so they can stay on their feet and remain self-sufficient.”
Hockett says the agency operates about 100 programs to help people from all walks of life.
OlyCAP is the largest nonprofit agency on the Peninsula.
“We have about 320 employees who help newborns, senior citizens and everyone in between,” he says.
Hockett says the wide array of programs OlyCAP offers helps assist low-income families and other vulnerable populations, especially children and older adults.
The agency’s programs can be divided among six operating divisions: early childhood services, long-term care services, home improvement services, food and nutrition services, community resource services and housing services.
“We provide a number of direct services, but we also partner with other agencies to magnify our impact,” Hockett says.
OlyCAP operates offices in Port Townsend, Port Angeles and Forks and operates senior community centers in Chimacum and Brinnon and a HeadStart office in Sequim.
The agency has an $8.5 million annual budget funded by federal, state and local governmental allocations and private donations from nonprofit foundations and individual donors.
In addition, the Peninsula Daily News’ Home Fund raises a significant amount of money for the agency’s emergency services fund.
‘Best kept secret’
“A lot of people do not know what OlyCAP does,” Hockett says.
“In some ways we are the best kept secret on the Peninsula.”
Hockett says working for the agency is very gratifying.
“There are a lot of people who work for us that could make more money in another profession,” he says.
“But they choose to be here to help people. It is very gratifying work.”
In the last year:
* OlyCAP staff members helped 123 people prepare for jobs, of which 67 people found employment and 52 people maintained those jobs for a year.
* OlyCAP directly employed 72 people in various re-employment support programs.
* About 290 children were enrolled in HeadStart.
* Staff worked to help 1,752 people receive 25,071 hours of caregiver training.
* Five people received help learning English as their second language.
* OlyCAP provided childcare services for 32 families.
* Staff helped 122 people learn to manage their money better. Fifty of the people completed a course in financial literacy.
* Fifteen people completed first time homebuyers training and 30 people completed home maintenance classes.
* OlyCAP staff helped 152 people find permanent housing.
* The agency helped 146 people access emergency shelter.
* Fifty-nine people were assisted in moving from emergency shelter to transitional housing.
* OlyCAP staff provided minor home repairs for 50 households and weatherized dozens of homes.
* More than 6,000 people received some form of emergency assistance services from the agency.
* More than 9,000 people benefited from OlyCAP’s nutrition programs, including visiting one of the 12 food banks the agency supports.
* In addition, hot meals were provided to 880 elders at community centers where 42,627 meals were served.
Another 10,000 meals were catered.
Meals for elders
OlyCAP staff arranged for 49,003 meals to be delivered to 289 homebound elders and other disabled, low-income people covered by Medicaid throughout 2003.
OlyCAP case managers referred nearly 6,000 people to other local services.
Staff arranged for 597 people to be transported to work or educational programs.
OlyCAP provided case management to 418 persons or families seeking self-sufficiency.
About 900 people received dental treatment through OlyCAP programs.
Through an energy assistance program, 1,450 families received help to offset heating costs during the winter of 2002-03.
“In some way we helped more than 15,000 people who live on the North Olympic Peninsula,” Hockett says.
“And we expect to help more in the future.”
Hockett says the agency has tripled in size during the last 15 years and is constantly growing and changing to meet the needs of people living in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
