Crisis Assistance

Through state and local funding, the Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center provides financial assistance for persons in need of Utility, Rent or Transportation Assistance.   This program is designed to assist individuals and families in two ways: 1) by resolving and averting basic needs crisis situations 2) by providing connections to information and asset development activities which encourage long-term self-sufficiency.  Our clients are often referred by other agencies or have heard of our services through word of mouth.  Most of our clients are considered to be at 75% of poverty guidelines, however, because of the nature of poverty, we often assist clients who are considered to be above poverty guidelines in their moment of crisis.  We require documentation of situations and events that may have contributed to the crisis, except in the cases where a person or family is homeless.  At this point, we will assist clients with a referral from Peoples Community Health Clinic Homeless Coordinator or from any other local shelters such as Salvation Army, Family Service League or the House of Hope to name a few. 

Food Pantry and Voucher Program

By partnering with Northeast Iowa Foodbank, the Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center operates a small food pantry to assist individuals and families who are experiencing food insecurity.  Additionally, there is a voucher system used to help people get other necessary items from Hy-Vee Local Foods 

Empowerment Programs

We we also offer addiction group counseling, community service activities and other educational programming such as the legal clinic, financial management, citizenship restoration, fair housing and lead-based paint awareness, health screenings, homebuyer and voter education.  In response to the overwhelming feedback from our clients, we will be introducing the People's Law Clinic offering legal consultation to low income individuals and families as well as Employment Preparation and Placement services for unskilled, low income or formerly incarcerated persons in partnership with other state and local entities such as the Department of Labor, Hawkeye Community College/Martin Luther King Center, University of Northern Iowa and local employers.  

For more information please contact info@jessecosby.org or call (319) 234-1793.

Support

Congregate and Home Delivered Meals

The Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center provides on-site and home delivered meals to over 20,000 area seniors each year.  Unless you qualify for the Elderly Waiver program, we ask that each participant contribute $4.10 to assure that delivery of nutritious meals may continue.  To qualify for home delivered meals, either you or your spouse must be at least 60 years old and homebound (unable to leave your home without assistance). Home visits are conducted to make a full assessment of client needs

Senior Living Program (SLP)

Administered in partnership with Hawkeye Valley Area Agency on Aging, the Senior Living Program is a consumer directed service that helps improve the quality of life for aging participants by helping to balance the alternatives of home and community-based services and institutional care. Often linked to the Case Management Program for the Frail Elderly (CMPFE), the Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center assists families with coordinating in-home services such as: Senior Companion, Home Delivered Meals and Visiting Nurses.

Elderly Waiver Program

Another program that is available is the Medicaid Home and Community Based Services-Elderly Waiver Program. In order to receive in-home services under this program, clients must accept case management services under the CMPFE program, be 65 years of age or older, meet income and resource requirements, and have significant health needs. Services received through the Elderly Waiver program are paid for by Medicaid dollars. There is a monthly maximum of $1,052 per individual if the client meets the intermediate level of care and $2,480.00 if the client meets the skilled level of care.

Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Program

This program is funded by The U.S Department of Agriculture and administered jointly by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Department of Elder Affairs. The program provides low-income seniors with $26 in checks to use for fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. Nutrition education materials have been developed to accompany distribution of the checks at the Center 

Information

Nutrition Education
Many Senior are joining in with the Chef Charles Club, a nutrition education project which will include a monthly nutrition newsletter, bingo game and demonstrations on topics like fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, food safety and food security and resource management.

Health Screening and Education
Local Public Health nurses and home care nurses visit the Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center each month to provide blood pressure screening and health education.  

Activities

• Exercise

• Bingo

• Book Club

• Movie Day

• Bible Study

• Pottery/Art

• Travel Club

For more information please contact info@jessecosby.org or call (319) 234-1793.

For more information please contact info@jessecosby.org or call (319) 234-1793.