Honor and Respect the Land and Its People

By the time you read this, @Home in Adams County will have hosted two events to help Adams Countians better understand the state of housing in the area. First, on Sept. 20, @Home brought together community leaders and housing industry experts to discuss housing in our county. Then, on Sept. 26, Adrian Garcia spoke to Coalition members about fair housing and how municipal officials can help ensure such for their constituents. I’ll save the lessons learned for next month!

In the meantime, let’s talk about housing. @Home focuses on housing for all. Sometimes we might refer to affordable housing. And that, sometimes, puts the image of low-incoming housing in our minds. That is certainly part of it. But as I’ve mentioned in this column before, it is so much more than that.

Affordable means you can afford the home you live in. Whether you rent or pay a mortgage or own your home outright. How much of your income is spent on the roof over your head and on your utilities – electric, heating and air conditioning, gas, water, and sewer? The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) suggests that you should spend about 30% of your income for all of it. 

Fair Market Rate, according to HUD, is $917 for a one-bedroom place and $1,483 for three bedrooms. That’s just for rent. Imagine your grandmother on a fixed income. Is she able to afford that one-bedroom apartment? She is? Terrific! Where is she living? Is she lucky enough to have a place in Adams County?

Now imagine a first-year teacher. That teacher’s starting salary is approximately $52,000 (depending on the school district). That recent college graduate could afford to spend about $1,300 per month on rent and utilities. What about an entry-level police officer? According to indeed.com, an officer with 1-2 years of experience would make $40,277 in Gettysburg. That means that officer would spend about $1,006 a month on rent/mortgage and utilities. Are there any places in Adams County that could accommodate those prices?

Could that teacher and that police officer find a place where they would pay fair market rate? Maybe. Would their utility costs put them over that 30% spending threshold? I suspect the answer is “yes.”

So, what is the solution? It’s easy to say the answer is more housing at all price points. And that would certainly help, but I know it’s not as simple as that. We live in a beautiful, historical, rural area. It is land that should be honored and respected.

However, just as we honor and respect the land, shouldn’t we honor and respect those who want to live and work here? Help us think about outside-of-the box ideas to help solve this complex issue. To learn more about @Home in Adams County and its partners, please visit our website at www.homeinadamscounty.org. 

Stacey Rice is coordinator of @Home in Adams County. @Home focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. It is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by South Central Community Action Programs. Her email is srice@sccap.org.

Take a ride on the GHC

Have you ever ridden public transportation while visiting a large metropolitan area? Hopped on the metro in Washington D.C.? Taken a bus from Grand Central Station in New York? Or maybe taken the light rail into Baltimore?

It’s so convenient to take a bus or train instead of trying to keep a vehicle in the city – paying for parking, maintaining the vehicle, paying for gas. Every 10 minutes or so a new train or bus stops, you step on, and then you’re on your way!

Now, have you ever ridden public transportation here in Gettysburg? I’m guessing you haven’t. Why? I’m sure you’ve seen the rabbittransit buses traveling throughout town. They aren’t just for shuttling tourists around the area. They are great resources for local folks too!

I know, it seems only logical (not to mention easy) to use your vehicle. Plus, Gettysburg and Adams County are such a rural area. Why do we need a bus?

Did you know the Gettysburg-New Oxford corridor along Route 30 and then down Route 94 is considered an “urbanized area,” according to rabbittransit? What better way to transport lots of folks through this area than by bus?!

If you are one of the 4.4% of Adams County households without a vehicle or one of the 26% who have only one vehicle (most likely shared with another driver) getting around can be tricky. But bus routes like the Gettysburg-Hanover Connector (GHC) provide opportunities to travel outside the borough of Gettysburg.

The GHC runs from downtown Gettysburg, along Route 30 to Cross Keys, down Route 94 into downtown Hanover. For $1.60 per ride, you can sit and relax while someone else drives you through the myriad traffic lights enroute. You can read, catch up on schoolwork, chat with friends or family, or just sit and watch out the window as you ride to work. There are several large employers along this route. Think about the possibilities!

And if you are in one of the 40% of households who happen to have at least two vehicles riding the bus can help save wear and tear on your car, conserve gas, and allow all the other benefits already mentioned above. Not only does rabbittransit have the GHC to get us to Hanover, but it also has several routes that travel around Gettysburg – to The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg, the Eisenhower Complex near the Steinwehr Ave. exit on Route 15, and the Adams Commerce Center, among other places.

The buses are air conditioned and have room for a bicycle. And rabbittransit has an app that allows you to see the bus in real time, so you know when it’s headed to your stop.

I encourage you try a ride on the GHC!

To learn more about @Home in Adams County, the GHC, or rabbittransit visit www.homeinadamscounty.org.

Stacey Rice is coordinator of @Home in Adams County. @Home focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. It is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by South Central Community Action Programs. Her email is srice@sccap.org.

Why care about PHARE funding?

What is PHARE funding and why should we care?

The Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement fund (PHARE) is money set aside by the state government and then dispersed across the state to help support affordable housing efforts. The fund was established by Act 104 of 2010 “to provide the mechanism by which certain allocated state or federal funds, as well as funds from other outside sources, would be used to assist with the creation, rehabilitation and support of affordable housing throughout the Commonwealth,” according to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s (PHFA) website. PHFA manages the PHARE fund.

Last year Gov. Tom Wolf named 223 housing and community development initiatives throughout the state as recipients of PHARE funds - including $223,300 to Pennsylvania Interfaith Community Programs for innovative housing solutions and Project New Start and $125,000 for South Central Community Action Programs for its apartment project.

The fund helps to assist households below 50% of the median area income. The median household income in Adams County is $68,411, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Funding for the PHARE awards comes from two main sources – a portion of the impact fees collected from natural gas companies and a portion of the realty transfer tax. The PHARE fund is currently capped at $40 million, but there is legislation before the state House and Senate to up the cap to $100 million.

This legislation is important because there a is shortage of affordable housing in Pennsylvania, and the gap between the cost of a home and what people actually make is present everywhere in the state – including Adams County. High costs force folks to over-burden themselves and they then pay more than they can afford just to give their family shelter. For every 100 extremely low-income households, there are only 39 affordable housing units, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

What can we do? We at @Home believe that having more money available for affordable housing will ultimately help everyone. It would mean that affordable housing projects in all 67 counties in the state could receive more money overall. We will do our part to express support for this legislation.

Individuals could consider reaching out to their state representatives in support of upping the PHARE cap. And you could encourage others to do the same.

In other news, @Home would like to encourage folks to use the Gettysburg-Hanover Connector, a fixed-route bus service from rabbittransit. This bus route runs from downtown Gettysburg through New Oxford to Cross Keys and down Route 94 into downtown Hanover and then back again. Stops along this route are within walking distance of career services, businesses, shopping, restaurants, and medical facilities. A ride one way is $1.60. You can find more information at www.rabbittransit.org/schedules/gettysburg-hanover-connector/.

For more information about the PHARE fund visit www.phfa.org/legislation/act105.aspx.

To learn more about the Gettysburg-Hanover Connector or @Home in Adams County visit homeinadamscouty.org.

Stacey Rice is coordinator of @Home in Adams County. @Home focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. It is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by South Central Community Action Programs. Her email is srice@sccap.org.

It takes a village to advocate

It takes a village to make things work and to bring about change. This is especially true of big, complex community issues like affordable housing, viable transportation, and sustainable employment.

The United Way of Adams County’s 75th Anniversary Give. Advocate. Volunteer. Awards on June 8 reminded me of what it takes to make a difference. It takes a village.

It takes a village to prepare over 300 federal, state, and local tax returns for low income households during tax season. It takes a village to host the Women’s Purse Auction each year – the proceeds of which enable youth exiting foster care to transition out of the system and into being on their own for the first time.

While these things may not seem connected to @Home in Adams County’s initiatives – affordable housing, viable transportation options, and sustainable employment – they are all linked. Folks who can’t afford an accountant to do their taxes or can’t do them on their own can get free help. And are likely getting a refund – maybe a little extra to put toward living expenses or make a car repair.

The young adults exiting the foster care system have a chance to feel confident as they enter the workforce and live on their own for the first time. Finding a job allows them to afford a place to live and allows them to ride public transportation or even buy their first car.

All of these are vital to a healthy community. The more self-sufficient folks are, the better the local economic climate.

Advocating for complex issues is no easy thing, though. @Home concentrates on educating and advocating for affordable housing for all residents in Adams County. We want all residents to have a reliable way to get to work, medical appointments, training opportunities, and shopping areas. We would like local employees to earn sustainable wages so they can continue working and living in our county.

But how? How can we advocate for these things?

Tracie Potts, Executive Director of the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College, shared ways of doing just that. After listening to how she went before her local school board to encourage repairs to her children’s school, @Home Coalition members had a chance to apply her methods to develop ways to advocate here in Adams County.

Tracie’s advice: learn, plan, act, change.

Learn by identifying an issue and collecting data about that issue. Share data about affordable housing waiting lists – how many applicants, how long the wait time is.

Plan by building your team – which state and local officials and other stakeholders (bus riders, folks looking for housing, folks building housing, businesses looking for workers). Tell those stakeholders’ stories – make them human.

Act by being present, creative, authentic, and patient. Build your team and offer a solution or compromise.

And, finally, change! Use services connected to our initiatives – like taking the Gettysburg-Hanover Connector to get to CareerLink, WellSpan V-Twin Drive, or Hanover to keep this transportation opportunity viable in our community. Change will take time.

To view the May Coalition meeting recording and learn more about @Home in Adams County visit homeinadamscouty.org.

Stacey Rice is coordinator of @Home in Adams County. @Home focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. It is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by South Central Community Action Programs. Her email is srice@sccap.org.

Be An Agent of Change

“Go forth! Be an agent of change. And wherever you go, go forth!”

How apropos for the work we do with @Home in Adams County! Hearing those words sung by the Gettysburg Children’s Choir earlier this month reminded me of @Home’s mission: to advocate, educate, and develop solutions for the complex issues facing Adams County residents. We can do it! We can “go forth” and “be an agent of change.”

But, how? Changing things can seem just as overwhelming as the challenges themselves.

Recently, the @Home Coalition gathered on Zoom to learn from Tracie Potts, Executive Director of the Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College. She has a wealth of media experience focused on public policy, along with years of educational advocacy for and with students. Tracie shared her knowledge and techniques with us so we can apply them to @Home's initiatives - affordable housing, viable transportation options, economic/workforce development, and broadband. And we had a chance to brainstorm ways to do this.

If you read this column regularly, you know that there is a shortage of affordable housing. You know that more than half our residents leave the county to work. You realize more than half of our working residents are likely to retire in the next decade, and less than half of those folks will be replaced with younger workers.

I found out at the PHFA Housing Forum conference a few weeks ago that 75% of houses being built across the country are over $500,000. We know there’s a severe housing shortage. How can we make sure ALL residents have a safe, affordable place to live when the bulk of homes being built cost so much? Dr. Elliot Eisenberg, a keynote speaker at the conference and internationally acclaimed economist and public speaker, acknowledged, “We need cheaper homes.”

The country is in a perfect storm. The pandemic, folks retiring in droves, folks leaving the workforce to stay home with children, folks not having children at all, and the country’s immigration policy – all hit at once, according to Eisenberg.

It seems gloomy, but there is light. There is hope. If 36 students from across the county know they can inspire change in their world, we should know that we can be that change.

Not sure how to support and advocate for our initiatives? Attend our Coalition meetings which are held every other month. Take a ride on the Gettysburg Hanover Connector and encourage others to do the same. Talk to your neighbors, friends, and community leaders about the importance of all residents living in safe housing in line with their income. Write your representatives about supporting a living wage for all. Attend municipal meetings and speak on behalf of our initiatives.

 “Go forth! Be an agent of change,” for those who cannot do so for themselves. Thank you to Matt Carlson, incoming artistic director of the children’s choir for composing such inspiring words. The kids get it. We should too.

To learn more about @Home, our partners, or the Gettysburg Hanover Connector visit homeinadams.org.

Stacey Rice is coordinator of @Home in Adams County. @Home focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. It is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by South Central Community Action Programs. Her email is srice@sccap.org.

Did you know…

Did you know that more than half of Adams County’s working residents leave the county for work each day to earn a higher wage so they can make their salary go further?

Did you know that of the 55,188 working residents in Adams County approximately 37,861 of those residents will be retiring in the next 10-15 years? And there are only 16,970 workers aged 25-39 currently in the workforce.

Did you know there seems to be a disconnect between the skills/education the labor force has and the skills/education employers in the county need?

Did you know that Adams County’s unemployment rate is 3.85% (meaning it’s VERY low)?

Did you know that 65.8% of working residents leave the county for work?

Did you know that only 34.2% of residents live and work here in the county?

Did you know that 28% of households in Adams County live with inadequate income? These are working families who are not earning enough to be stable.

Did you know that 7% of households in our county live in poverty?

These statistics sound bleak and they are, and they deserve our attention.

@Home in Adams County works with community members – partners and residents – to find solutions to the barriers that limit a household’s access to essential resources. While @Home cannot create jobs that pay living wages, we can advocate for industries to pay their employees enough to live here. We can educate folks about how much money it takes to live in this county. By working together, we can help develop innovative ideas on how to attract a labor force with the skills our industries need. And we can help create ways for that labor force to get to those jobs.

Between 40 and 60 community partners and residents regularly attend our Coalition meetings. And over the coming months you will hear us ask everyone to share what they learn with others, educating our friends and neighbors on how to help Adams County remain a strong vibrant community. You will help us develop strategies and ideas to make sure all of us have access to affordable housing, viable transportation options, and living wages. These things are all connected.

But we cannot do this alone! If each of our 40-60 community partners and residents spoke to 10 people about these issues, we’d reach 400-600 people. And if those 400-600 people each talked to 10 people, we’d reach 4,000-6,000 people. You see where I’m going with this. It is a ripple. Not a tsunami. That ripple, your voice, is invaluable to @Home’s mission!

Why should you care? Think about your children. Do you want them to grow up and move away from you? Do you want your aging parents on fixed incomes to live independently for as long as possible? Do you want to see your own tax burden eased a bit?

Attend our May Coalition meeting. We’ll learn more about how to advocate for @Home’s initiatives. We hope you can join us on May 23 at 1 p.m. via Zoom.

Stacey Rice is coordinator of @Home in Adams County. @Home focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. It is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by South Central Community Action Programs. Her email is srice@sccap.org.

The Glass is Definitely Half-full!

Is the glass half-full or half-empty?! It depends on your perspective. If I were walking out in the hot sun all day, with no water to hand, and suddenly came across a glass filled halfway with water, I would be grateful for that half-full cup! Of course, if I were carrying a full glass of water and I tripped, spilling half of it, I would probably be mad at how it was now half empty!

What does a glass of water have to do with anything? Well, I had the privilege of listening to more than a dozen community leaders speak about their organizations and how full their own cups were over the past two years. Specifically, how their organizations, businesses, and constituents met the challenges of COVID. Going into that meeting last month, all signs pointed at a cup half-empty.

Boy, I was wrong! Every one of those leaders shared their glass half-full. The past two years might have exacerbated problems they were already facing – staffing shortages, wages, mental health issues, etc. And they did not shy away from them during the @Home Coalition's Community Zoom Meeting. Instead, these folks shared how their organizations modified how they did things. 

For example, to help meet the county's COVID testing and vaccine needs, Adams County collaborated with WellSpan to use the county's 911 center for hosting testing and vaccine clinics. In addition, Rabbittransit shared that while a bus driver shortage continues to be a challenge throughout the region, Adams County bus routes were likely to be fully staffed in the next few months – in part due to raising the starting wage of drivers. And the number of visitors to our area is back to 99% of what it was pre-COVID. 

Of course, there are likely adverse effects we are not aware of yet. However, we here in Adams County can overcome them.

But how?

For a start, take the WellSpan Community Health Needs Survey. I recently filled it out and what struck me most were the questions related to COVID. While I cannot speak on behalf of WellSpan and whoever developed the survey, I would venture to guess they are trying to gauge how our health – physical and mental – has changed since this time two years ago.

I look forward to learning about the data the survey gathers. If you have not had a chance to fill it out, see @Home in Adams County's website for the link. 

In addition, encourage people you know to visit – eat and shop in the county, participate in local events. Support our local businesses. Do you know people who need help with rent or utilities? Direct them to South Central Community Action Program's website. SCCAP can help.

The most important request? "Be patient," said Karl Pietrzak, President and CEO of Destination Gettysburg.

Everyone is short-staffed. Product delays are still happening. Everything seems to just take longer. So, be patient and kind.

And realize the glass is half-full and filling up more a little bit at a time.

To find out more about @Home in Adams County and its partners, visit our website at www.homeinadamscounty.org. Our next @Home Coalition Meeting is via Zoom on Monday, March 28, at 1 p.m. 

Stacey Rice is coordinator of @Home in Adams County. @Home focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. It is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by South Central Community Action Programs. Her email is srice@sccap.org.

Together We Will Round Yet Another Corner

When the pandemic hit in March 2020, the world stood still. No one knew what to do or how to do it. Schools closed, businesses closed, restaurants closed. Yet, essential services stayed open, changing how they functioned. That same month, the Adams County Community Foundation organized the first in a series of community call-ins. Area business, service, education, and community leaders called in to discuss their challenges.

Almost two years later, we are still facing COVID-related challenges. How did we get here? Why did we get here? How do we move on? It seems bleak.

But it isn’t!

Everyone changed course. They pivoted. Those of us of a certain age hear that word and immediately think of one of our “Friends,” Ross Geller, as he works to get a sofa up a staircase. Unfortunately for Ross, pivoting wasn’t enough. He ended up sawing the couch in half.

However, we succeeded without breaking apart! We created protocols for working from home, cleaning, safety, and more. Because we took a breath, gave it some thought and came together as a community, we didn’t get stuck at the corner as Ross did. Instead, we kept ourselves together and made it in one piece.

We might have had a few bumps or bruises along the way, but we did it! We turned the first COVID corner without destroying what had, and we were able to get back to some semblance of normal.

It’s not over yet though. There are new corners to navigate – workforce shortages, inflation, disrupted supply chains. So, do we need to pivot once again? Or can we take what we have, what we have learned, and apply it to what we want to do?

That is why @Home in Adams County, in conjunction with the Community Foundation, is hosting a Community Meeting via Zoom on Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. We have asked community and industry leaders to update us on where they are now. In 2020, those leaders joined forces with the Community Foundation to share their challenges and their efforts to combat them.

Since then, they have found clever and ingenious ways to help the people they serve. How is COVID likely to affect them going forward? How can the Adams County community help them and the people they serve?

I don’t know exactly what will happen with this virus, but I know we will continue finding innovative ways to move forward. To pivot. Together we will round yet another corner. We will help our community and make it a better place for everyone.

@Home invites you to listen to what these folks have to say and to learn how you can help.

To find out more about @Home in Adams County, its partners, or those who will share at our next meeting - visit our website at www.homeinadamscounty.org. You can also join us for the @Home Coalition Community Zoom Meeting on Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. You can register on our website.

Stacey Rice is coordinator of @Home in Adams County. @Home focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. It is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by South Central Community Action Programs. Her email is srice@sccap.org.

Doing Good Things!

The number of folks who are doing good things in our community always amazes me! Take the anonymous donors who have come forth with a donor challenge to help South Central Community Action Programs meet its million-dollar goal! If SCCAP secures $850,000 in gifts and pledges by Dec. 31, the donors will give $150,000 to get SCCAP to its goal! They are so close – you can go to www.sccap.org to see how close or to donate.

In addition to those anonymous donors, regional organizations want to partner with local folks to do even more good things for our community. One of those organizations is Servants, a faith-based group out of York County. Servants does a variety of things to help people in South Central Pennsylvania, around the country, and across the globe. In 2021, Servants, through its Home Helps program assisted 79 churches, helping approximately 140 homeowners in York and Lancaster counties.

In 2022, executive director and founder Trent Davis wants to bring Home Helps to Adams County. The program helps facilitate volunteer engagement between churches, businesses, and individuals seeking to improve the quality of life for low-income, older, homeowners. Trent spoke at our most recent @Home in Adams Coalition meeting. He said Servants hopes to help 20 homeowners here next year. Servants is actively looking to establish partnerships in the county. These partners will help raise awareness of the program, recruit volunteers, and raise money for materials.

Our @Home partners have been doing amazing things too!

The Adams County Office of Aging is actively recruiting folks for its ECHO and SHARE home programs. SHARE is an affordable housing option that brings together unrelated individuals to share a home. It serves people of all ages and incomes. ECHO homes are small, separate, manufactured residences placed on a host family’s property. The ECHO resident must be 60 years or older and can be related or unrelated to the host family.

Developer Luminest recently broke ground on what will be 36 new, affordable, 2–3-bedroom townhomes. And Converge Enterprises laid the foundation and now has the building under roof, adding two units of affordable housing on Biglerville Road.

Rabbittransit continues to run the Gettysburg-Hanover Connector, a bus route that travels through New Oxford to Hanover. Ridership was up from 188 in February to 477 in June! They are actively seeking bus drivers!

Rabbittransit is not alone in looking for employees! It’s common knowledge that many businesses are hiring right now. No one knows why there are so few workers, but the shortage could lead to more businesses turning to automation to help fulfill their needs.

That automation could be a challenge without broadband internet across the county. Luckily, the county commissioners are developing a new task force to bring high-speed internet to all corners of our rural county.

Would you like to learn more about what @Home in Adams County and its partners are working on? Want more information about SCCAP, Servants, ECHO, SHARE, or the GHC? Visit our website at www.homeinadamscounty.org. You can also join us for our next @Home Coalition meeting on Jan. 31 at 1 p.m. via Zoom. You can register on our website.

Stacey Rice is coordinator of @Home in Adams County. @Home focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. It is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by South Central Community Action Programs. Her email is srice@sccap.org.

There is so much to share!

First, congratulations to the Adams County Commissioners for creating a Broadband Task Force! The past two years have certainly shown us how important a strong internet connection is for everyone. The Gettysburg Times reports the task force will be charged with bringing high-speed internet to all areas of Adams County. The group will consist of eight members from various categories around the county. Interested in serving? Please email your resume to County Manager Steve Nevada at snevada@adamscounty.us.

Second, congratulations to the Adams County Community Foundation for raising more than $3,000,000 during The Giving Spree earlier this month! Adams County is an amazing community and when we come together remarkable things happen! The Community Foundation inspires people and communities to build and distribute charitable funds for the good of Adams County. To find out more about this great organization and The Giving Spree please visit the foundation’s website at https://www.adamscountycf.org.

Third, I would like to introduce myself. I am Stacey Rice, the new @Home in Adams County coordinator. I am excited to help with this amazing initiative that seeks to make Adams County a place everyone can afford to live – from young adults seeking their fortunes to young families working hard to get by to older residents living on fixed incomes. Living in this community, I know how wonderful it is! We have so much to offer, and I am eager to see us thrive.

Finally, @Home is gearing up for its next @Home Coalition meeting on Nov. 29. Not a coalition member yet? Want to learn more about @Home and how its partners are helping Adams Countians? Join us live via Zoom at 1 p.m. on Nov. 29. See where we are with our @Home initiatives and get updates from other @Home projects.

We will also hear from Trent Davis, executive director and founder of Servants. Trent had been working as a CPA in Baltimore, MD, when he heard God’s call to start an organization that would help connect people in need with people that want to serve. He has led over 40 mission trips to Guatemala as well as teams to India, Haiti, and along the Gulf Coast of the United States. Trent is passionate about seeing others serve and especially enjoys seeing people fall in love with missions for the first time.

On Nov. 29 he will share more about Servants and how they could assist residents in Adams County. Currently, Servants has 600 volunteers in Lancaster and York counties helping to make home repairs for elderly residents. To learn more about Trent and Servants or how you might help, visit their website at https://www.servants.org.

To learn more about @Home in Adams County, subscribe to our mailing list, or register for the Nov. 29 meeting visit our website at https://www.homeinadamscounty.org/.

Stacey Rice is coordinator of @Home in Adams County. @Home focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. It is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by South Central Community Action Programs.

Opportunities for Involvement with the @Home Coalition

As the world moves toward recovery during this challenging time, I am proud to be a part of an initiative that works to bring resource and opportunity to the community. This of course would not be possible without the support and collaboration of our partners and devoted coalition members who are united in creating a strong foundation for the future. 

We, as an initiative, have come a long way in these last two and a half years!  In case you need a little reminder, we are a community engagement initiative focused on coordinating resources, advocating for, and developing solutions to some of the most complex issues facing Adams County residents.  These issues are the product of lack of access to affordable housing options, viable transportation options, and livable wage.  It is our sincerest hope that all residents of Adams County will have opportunities to live in safe housing in line with their income, find sustainable employment, and access reliable transportation options.

If you are passionate about these efforts and have an interest in advocacy and collaborating to find equitable solutions for your community, I encourage you to join our @Home in Adams County Coalition!

If you are interested in working on a specific issue, we offer opportunities to get involved with our taskforces.  Currently, this includes our broadband taskforce, though, we are interested in re-establishing our housing, transportation, and livable wage taskforces after this COVID-19 hiatus!  To learn more about these opportunities, visit our website www.homeinadamscounty.org.  If you have any suggestions or expertise in facilitating a taskforce and would like to be involved in the re-establishment of these groups, please contact me at cjohnson@sccap.org.

Caroline Johnson is Coordinator of @Home in Adams County, which focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. @Home is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by the South Central Community Action Programs.

Our ECHO Program Moves Forward!

On Monday, April 12th, we were welcomed by the supervisors of Butler Township to present information on the ECHO (Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity) Project.  There, we were joined by a family who successfully applied for the program and are interested in participation!  We were so happy to meet this family and all information was well received by the Township manager and supervisors!  We are excited to make progress with this work and look forward to sharing future updates.  If you are interested in learning more about the ECHO Program, visit @Home in Adams County’s website, www.homeinadamscounty.org, to learn more or contact Vicki Huffaker of Adams County Office for Aging at vhuff@acofa.org for additional information.

 If you missed Community Media of South Central Pennsylvania’s promotional video for the Gettysburg Hanover Connector, be sure to check it out!  You can find this video on their website at www.communitymedia.net or on @Home in Adams County’s Facebook page.  If you are feeling safe enough to ride the Gettysburg Hanover Connector, we encourage you to do so!  This opportunity will allow you to better understand an essential service in Adams County and you’ll support our efforts in maintaining this route during it’s 3-year pilot phase.  For more information and to learn how to ride the Gettysburg Hanover Connector, visit @Home’s website.

Our partners in transportation and employment at Commuter Services of Pennsylvania (CSPA) have several fun challenges coming up for your participation.  Last week, CSPA challenged participants to engage in their online Earth-a-Palooza campaign.  This activity began on the 21st in celebration of earth day and promoting a greener, environmentally friendly commute.  Green commutes include working from home, carpooling, riding the bus, biking, walking, or vanpooling.  The challenge lasted until April 23rd and once concluded, winners are chosen and awarded prizes to include a $50 gift card to Starbucks and a $25 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods.  If you missed this opportunity last week, keep an eye out for future challenges that will be posted on CSPA’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CommuterServicesPA, and on their website at, www.pacommuterservices.org , to enroll in Commute PA, record your green commute, and for a chance to win prizes! 

Have a safe and happy April!  I look forward to connecting with you again, soon.

Caroline Johnson is Coordinator of @Home in Adams County, which focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. @Home is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by the South Central Community Action Programs.

Updates from @Home in Adams County

Here are some updates from @Home in Adams County I’d like you to keep in mind for this month!  We value your input and if anything mentioned below resonates with you, please reach out to me at cjohnson@sccap.org with any interest or questions.

As you might remember, last month we hosted our second annual @Home Summit online!  It was a great success and we learned much about broadband access and the ways in which it helps to strengthen communities.  Now, we have formed a broadband taskforce based in Adams County to continue the important work that began years ago to bring increased, quality access to our community.  On Monday, March 22nd the taskforce met for the first time to discuss initial ideas and to assess where we would like to begin this work.  If you are interested in joining this taskforce, please visit our website at www.homeinadamscounty.org to register.  Here, you will also find a recorded version of our summit as well as other information to learn more about what broadband is and the depth of its impact.

The Gettysburg-Hanover Connector has been up and running since February 8th!  We have been periodically tracking ridership to monitor the success and viability of the route.  We are still so excited for this opportunity as it will have benefit for employers, jobseekers, and all residents across three communities (Gettysburg, New Oxford, and Hanover).  On Wednesday, March 24th the @Home in Adams County Steering Committee will take a group ride to familiarize ourselves with the route and to help promote its efforts!  Mark Wherley of Community Media of South Central Pennsylvania will be joining us to film the experience.  You can watch this feature on Community Media’s website and if you’re interested, you can take a ride on the GHC yourself!  Visit our website to access the route schedule and to learn how to ride at your convenience.

The Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) is looking for interested host families and cottage tenants to participate in this program.  If you or someone you know is interested or would like some more information, please contact me at cjohnson@sccap.org and I will be happy to help!  Additionally, the SHARE program is also looking for interested participants.  For participation in this program, please contact me or SHARE Coordinator Valery Adams at vadams@acofa.org.  To learn more about the ECHO and SHARE Programs, visit @Home’s website at www.homeinadamscounty.org.

Have a safe and happy week, I look forward to connecting with you again soon!

Caroline Johnson is Coordinator of @Home in Adams County, which focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. @Home is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by the South Central Community Action Programs.

@Home in Adams County Milestones

We are grateful to have experienced two milestones this month for @Home in Adams County and I would like to share those with you!

On Monday, February 8th the Gettysburg-Hanover Connector (GHC) officially launched, and we could not be more excited!  This essential bus service will bring access to various employment opportunities that offer a higher living wage and reliable transportation to get there.  Lack of transportation is a major barrier to employment as it pertains to retention for an employer and to opportunity for those in search of a job.  I, and four of my colleagues had the pleasure of taking the first ride on the GHC.  We watched the sun rise over New Oxford square as we passed through on our way to Cross Keys Village-The  Brethren Home, one of the stops on the route.   We were joined by the GHC’s first public rider that morning who explained that this fixed route is a convenient, affordable, and timely solution to meet his personal needs.  “This is a blessing”, he said, and will improve his chance of finding work, provide a means of running errands, and travelling between three towns in which he enjoys spending time.  It was a great surprise to see that this bus service is already making an impact on members in our community.

During this pilot phase, it is important that we maintain ridership to sustain this work!  If you are interested in taking a ride, we encourage you to do so!  You can find information on how to ride as well as a transit schedule on our website, www.homeinadamscounty.org, or on rabbittransit’s website, www.rabbittransit.org/schedules/gettysburg-hanover-connector.

On Monday, February 22nd, we hosted our second annual summit virtually!  Within two hours, we heard from a group of incredible folks who shared their thoughts and experiences regarding the positive impact that increased access to quality broadband connection could make on a community.  A representative from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development got us started with opening remarks on the value of broadband to small communities.  Our first Keynote speaker, Dr. Kyle Kopko, Director of Center for Rural Pennsylvania, shared important data on broadband for the state and why access is critical.  We hosted a Community Panel where several folks representing different industries such as education, business, agriculture, transportation, and health care shared their insight on broadband and its critical role in these sectors.  Finally, we heard from Commissioner Julie Wheeler and Dr. Silas Chamberlain of York County who spoke about the ways in which they increased implementation of broadband in York County, demonstrating that improving access to broadband is a realistic possibility for Adams County.

You can find a recorded version of our summit on @Home’s website, www.homeinadamscounty.org.  If you are interested in joining our Broadband taskforce, please visit our website for more information.

Caroline Johnson is Coordinator of @Home in Adams County, which focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. @Home is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by the South Central Community Action Programs.

New Year, New Opportunities @Home

Please read our January 2021 Article from the Gettysburg Times below. Thank you to the Gettysburg Times for supporting our work!

“As the new year begins, so too has preparation for new opportunities for the @Home in Adams County Initiative.   

This month I had the pleasure of presenting information about our Initiative to the Rotary Club of Gettysburg.  I was grateful for this opportunity.  Spreading awareness and starting important conversations about housing, transportation, and economic development in the County encompasses much of the work we do.  On Monday, January 25th we hosted our first virtual coalition meeting of the year and look forward to our next one in March!  We meet bi-monthly on the fourth Monday at 1:00-2:30pm.  To join us in March and at any of our future coalition meetings, visit our website for upcoming information about registration and Zoom access.

In February, I will meet with members of Gettysburg Rising who are interested in learning more about our coalition and the ways in which we aim to impact the community.  February will be an eventful month for us as I am happy to announce that we will be hosting a virtual @Home in Adams County Summit to focus on broadband access as it pertains to increasing opportunity in our community.  Our goal is to educate about the ways in which access to broadband is used to strengthen communities and discuss how its implementation emboldens a plan for a bright, sustainable future.

You can expect to hear from local government officials, leaders in education, in business, media, and rural community development speak to the importance of broadband, particularly to access in small communities.  By engaging these folks to continue this conversation, we hope to better illustrate a comprehensive understanding of the impact that lack of access to broadband has had in Adams County, and to know that the opportunity for implementation is a realistic one.

We invite you to join us at our @Home in Adams County Summit via Zoom on Monday, February 22nd from 12:00-2:00pm.  This week, you can find our official Summit announcement on our Facebook page and on our website, www.homeinadamscounty.org.  Be sure to subscribe to our distribution list, register to attend the Summit, and help us spread the word! “

Caroline Johnson is Coordinator of @Home in Adams County, which focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. @Home is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by the South Central Community Action Programs.

Much Time to Practice Gratitude

Please see our article featured in the Gettysburg Times below.

“Dear friends, I hope this message finds you well.  As I reflect on this year, I am relieved to see it come to a close.  However, despite its challenges, I have had much time to practice gratitude and to teach myself about the importance of self-compassion, particularly when it sometimes felt impossible.  I still have much to learn but somehow, taking a moment to recognize what I have gained in a year living in a nation saturated with unbearable loss and collective grief, it is nice to be reminded of something good.  If I may, I’d like to share some of these good things with you.

I am grateful for our lasting and supportive partnerships through which dedicated community members, leaders in business, nonprofit and government organizations have helped to strengthen the @Home in Adams County initiative and move our work forward.  I am amazed and humbled by the flexibility, understanding and the willingness to adapt to such abrupt change demonstrated by my supervisor and coworkers.  I feel encouraged to see progress and success in bringing affordable housing options, livable wage, and transportation to Adams County. 

Not one of these things possible without empathetic and compassionate consideration of our neighbors, friends, and families, who live in our community and who deserve to have access to essential resources.  As a community engagement coalition, we are grateful for the community in which we live and we understand its potential.  Our goal is to ensure it reaches that potential by finding solutions to complex issues facing Adams County residents.

You may be familiar with some of the housing solutions we have implemented so far, which include: the ECHO and SHARE Housing Programs in partnership with Pennsylvania Department of Aging and Adams County Office for Aging, Meadowview Townhomes in partnership with Luminest Community Development and Pennsylvania Interfaith Community Programs, Inc., Biglerville Rd. Duplex Project in partnership with Converge Enterprises and Adams County Housing Authority, and the South Central Community Action Programs Gettysburg Apartments Project.  We are looking forward to seeing some of these projects begin construction in the new year.

Thank you to all of our partners and coalition members who gave us many good reasons to make this year one to remember. 

To see a full list of our partners and to stay up to date on our projects, visit @Home in Adams County’s website at www.homeinadamscounty.org.”

Caroline Johnson is Coordinator of @Home in Adams County, which focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. @Home is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation and operated by the South Central Community Action Programs.

3P Ride: Transportation for Veterans in Adams County

In @Home’s last article featured in the Gettysburg Times and on our blog, we shared some information from Dr. Sherry Welsh of 3P Ride and the impact of transportation in the community.  In today’s post, I hope to further explain 3P Ride and its role in increasing access to transportation services, particularly for veterans in Adams County.

3P Ride is a nonprofit organization working to advance affordable and convenient mobility solutions that allows all Central Pennsylvania residents to meet their most basic needs.  Generally speaking, the overarching goal of this organization is to improve the mobility experience to better connect people to their community.  Connection means much more than moving from point A to point B.  Connection means access: access to medical care, healthy food, and veteran services to name a few examples.  3P Ride partners with other transportation organizations to bridge the funding gap, which makes access to transportation possible.

We will see the impact of these services most prominently for veterans in Adams County.  In partnership with rabbittransit and Capital Area Transit (CAT), rides are provided to local veterans throughout the community as well as to VA clinics.  Without financial assistance for transportation, it would be difficult for veterans to access medical care or day-to-day needs such as employment.

Veterans are encouraged to call 1-800-0632-9063 to schedule a trip and register for this service.  It is also recommended that veterans fill out an application for Shared Ride service to supplement additional rider transportation options to include local medical, pharmacy, socialization, or grocery trips to allow more opportunity to ride.

If you are a veteran or if you know any veteran’s in the area, please share this information and help to spread the word!

Linked below I’ve included rabbittransit’s website and 3P Ride’s website.  Click these links to learn more about this essential service.

rabbittransit

3P Ride

Caroline Johnson is Coordinator of @Home in Adams County, which focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. @Home is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation, operated by the South Central Community Action Programs.

Transportation is an Essential Service

Today, @Home in Adams County’s monthly article was published in the Gettysburg Times. We’ve included the article here, for your convenience! Give it a read and let us know what you think in the comments below.

“I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Sherry Welsh last week about transportation and its impact on community development.  During our conversation, I came to the striking conclusion that we, collectively, are heavily reliant on dependable transportation to access life sustaining services and resources such as employment and business vitality, shelter, medical care, food and amenities, education, finance, the list goes on.  We are a society that is constantly moving and consuming.  Without this essential service, our limitations would be significant and life-altering. 

 Dr. Welsh is a 3P Ride Administrator and Senior Project Manager of Central Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, an expert on all things transportation. However, I learned that her priority is not only promoting access to transportation, but also building inclusion, identifying barriers for folks in the community, and finding funding to make effective service provision possible.   Dr. Welsh goes on to explain that “transportation is often times, the essential connection needed to get people to places that allow them to live their lives. That can be things such as life-sustaining services like chemotherapy or dialysis, to grocery stores, or to places of employment. In the absence of public transportation, individuals are at risk for becoming sicker, hungry, and socially isolated. "

Until speaking with Dr. Welsh, admittedly, I had not fully realized the depth of impact that this service can have on a community.  I am fortunate to have a reliable, personal vehicle and realized that I had been struggling to consider other circumstances outside of my own.  I understood that I was using my privilege to take this service for granted.  What do you think?  You see, the idea of increasing access to transportation in Adams County is much more than establishing a new bus route or partnering with new transportation providers.  While those things are intrinsically important, the big picture illustrates a long-term solution for the benefit of the entire community. 

Without people, there is no community and that should be the primary source of motivation and consideration.  In providing support to our community through increased access to transportation we can ensure that folks have a connection to diverse employment opportunities with livable wage, affordable housing options, and connection to commerce.  We could see folks gaining financial stability, safety, business sustainability, and peace of mind.  In feeling supported by gaining access to resources that promote success and long-term vitality, we are planning for a better future.  Transportation could be the key.  Dr. Welsh says, “you can have the best services- whether medical, food resources, or places of employment, but without a way to get to them, what is their real value?"

3P Ride is a nonprofit organization advancing affordable and convenient mobility solutions that allows all Central Pennsylvania’s residents to connect to their most basic needs.  To learn more about 3P ride and their important services, visit their website at www.3P-ride.org.  To learn more about @Home in Adams County and our current projects and partnerships, visit our website at www.homeinadamscounty.org.”

Caroline Johnson is Coordinator of @Home in Adams County, which focuses on coordinating resources, advocating, and developing solutions for affordable living in Adams County. @Home is an initiative developed and funded by the Adams County Community Foundation, operated by the South Central Community Action Programs.

Affordable Housing Opportunity in Adams County

Today, @Home in Adams County’s monthly article was published in the Gettysburg Times. We’ve included the article here, for your convenience! Give it a read and let us know what you think in the comments below.

“@Home in Adams County in partnership with Adams County Office for Aging, South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP) and Pennsylvania Department of Aging have been working together to bring an affordable housing opportunity to Adams County for older adults.  We plan to achieve this by introducing the ECHO Program to the county. 

ECHO cottages are small, separate, manufactured residences that are temporarily placed in the side or rear yard of a host family, related to the cottage tenant by blood or marriage.  Think, mother-in-law suite or mobile efficiency unit. 

We are excited about this project for many reasons!  For starters, modular units are cost effective and affordable.  It would take about $58,000 to manufacture each cottage.  This is much less than the addition of a one-bedroom unit in a typical construction project, which would cost anywhere within the range of $150,000-$250,000 to develop.  Better yet, if living requirements were to change, the ECHO cottage can be repurposed and easily moved to another host family’s property without significant financial or physical change to the existing, permanent structure and land.

Importantly, ECHO cottages provide numerous benefits for older adults.  This includes safe and autonomous living for older residents with easy access to family members who can assist if necessary.  A separate living space will maintain privacy and dignity for the tenant and host family, it could reduce stress for caregivers, and increase family cohesiveness.

In Clearfield County, PA, two ECHO cottages have been successfully placed with plans to manufacture a third cottage once funding is secured. Leading by example, this success is paramount for the opportunity to expand affordable housing options across the state.

So, what is the next step for Adams County?

In August 2020 Pennsylvania Housing Finance Authority (PHFA) awarded $400,000 in funding for the ECHO Expansion Project.  This funding is estimated to cover most of the expansion project to include ECHO placement in four Pennsylvania counties.  We feel so fortunate that Adams County is being considered to participate in this project for the chance to introduce ECHO to our awesome residents!  However, to receive a portion of this funding for participation, we must identify an interested municipality and host family in Adams County to accommodate our first ECHO cottage.

@Home in Adams County, SCCAP, and Adams County Office for Aging are working to partner with a municipality in Adams County who would be willing to participate in this pilot project.  Last week, we were welcomed by Freedom Township to attend their supervisors meeting.  There, we presented information on the ECHO Project to this engaging group with interest in this promising opportunity.  If you would like to learn more about how your municipality can get involved in this project, please contact me at cjohnson@sccap.org or Vicki Huffaker of Adams County Office for Aging at vhuff@acofa.org or by phone 717-334-9296.  Visit @Home in Adams County’s website, www.homeinadasmcounty.org, for more information about this and other housing projects in the County.”

Caroline Johnson, Coordinator of @Home in Adams County Coalition - their mission is to: focus on coordinating resources, advocating for and developing solutions to the most complex issues facing Adams County residents.

Together, We Will Make an Impact

Our second Gettysburg Times article has been published!

Thank you to the Gettysburg Times for working with us to promote awareness about important issues in Adams County.

Please see this month’s article written by @Home in Adams County Coordinator, Caroline Johnson, below!

“Lately, I have been pulling much inspiration from this quote by Margaret J. Wheatly, “there is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”  I want to invite you to consider these words for a moment.  What an inspiring prospect it is to imagine the union of passionate community members working toward a common goal with the benefit for all residents at the heart of each effort. 

What do you think?

In some ways, it feels like the notion of these words resonate closely with the efforts of @Home in Adams County’s initiative to bring resources to the community.  This initiative is nothing without its coalition. 

In August, we had our first virtual coalition meeting since the start of COVID19 and about forty members joined us in discussion with the goal of working together to create positive change in the community.  I am so encouraged by the work and the engagement demonstrated by these folks.  Life has changed drastically since our last coalition meeting in February and to recognize that this group is prioritizing the needs in our community during such a personally challenging time is incredible.  There is compassion and strength in working together and this is how we will do it.  We will achieve so much more together than we ever could alone.

Currently, a focus on affordable housing options and employment have been at the forefront of many conversations due to COVID19 and its impact on the community.  The lack of these options in Adams County is staggering.  Now more than ever, it is critical that we advocate for and collaborate to implement solutions that increase accessibility and long-term sustainability for individuals and families to live and work locally. 

With that, I am so excited to share with you some updates from our August coalition meeting about housing options in Adams County where we have seen significant progress. 

Here are a few projects underway:

In partnership with Adams County Office of Aging, Diana T. Myers and Associates, Inc., and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, the Elder Cottage Housing Option (EHCO) expansion project has been awarded PHFA grant funds for communities like ours.  @Home in Adams County is working with our partners to identify a municipality in Adams County who is interested in hosting an ECHO cottage to participate in creating autonomous and safe housing options for older adults.

Our partners at Luminest Community Development in coordination with PICPI have been awarded funds by PHFA to begin construction on their Ridgeview Townhomes Project.  This project will bring thirty-six affordable family housing units to the Gettysburg area.  Construction for this project is expected to begin May 2021.

Converge Enterprises, a local developer in the Adams County area, has been approved to begin development on their Biglerville Road Duplex project.  The goal of this project is to help bring long term and greater supply of quality, affordable housing options in the area.  Construction is projected to begin in 2021.

@Home in Adams County is working closely with our partners at SCCAP and Adams County Office of Aging, to receive updates and provide support for SHARE housing and SCCAP apartments projects whose developments are in process.

We are a coalition of community members who care about resolution, recovery, access to resources, development, and realistic sustainability.  There is power in the collective inspiration and drive to achieve change.  These positive housing developments are proof that there truly is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about. 

For more information on @Home in Adams County’s efforts and our partner projects, visit our website at www.homeinadamscounty.org. “