Blog Feed

Dec14

OLHSA offers housing assistance to homeless veterans

Are you or someone you may know a Veteran in need of housing or at-risk of losing permanent nighttime residence? OLHSA may be able to assist.

If any of the following apply, individuals may qualify for housing assistance: a DD-214 (OLHSA can assist with obtaining this), honorable or dishonorable discharge, service in the Reserves, homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Veteran families may include a single individual or multi-person household...

Dec14

New van allows more convenient food program service to those in need

OLHSA’s Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), which provides food assistance to eligible residents of Oakland County who are age 60 and older, recently purchased a transit van in order to better serve clients and offer more convenience.

Homebound clients in Pontiac, Holly, Lake Orion, Southfield or Commerce can now put in a request for CSFP food packages to be delivered right to their doors. OLHSA is excited about the new addition and the...

Dec14

OLHSA’s 2017 Walk for Warmth events are coming up fast!

OLHSA is hosting its 27th annual Walk for Warmth events to raise funds for the Emergency Utility Assistance Program. The walk-a-thon events will take place on Feb. 4, 2017 at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills and February 18th, 2017 at the Hartland Educational Support Service Center in Howell, with premier sponsor Genisys Credit Union by our side.  Both events will feature giveaways, entertainment and lots of family fun. As always...

Dec14

OLHSA fights food insecurity with thirty thousand meals served this summer

This summer OLHSA collaborated with United Way of Southeastern Michigan to provide free meals and promote healthy living among children and individuals with disabilities in Pontiac through the Meet Up and Eat Up, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the...

Dec14

OLHSA’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program expands to Macomb County

OLHSA recently received funding to expand the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) program to families in Macomb County. The program already serves families in Oakland County.

OLHSA’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program provides free services to grandparents aged 55 and older who are raising grandchildren. Services include support and resources, presentations on various topics, intergenerational field trips, and access to OLHSA’s other...

Nov21

A fond farewell: musings by Ron Borngesser

Forty-two years ago, when my time serving in the United States Navy came to an end, I knew I wanted to continue to serve people. In a way different than being part of the armed forces, I wanted to care for others, build systems that would give people a better life, and continue to do my part to ensure America remained a place of opportunity.

I found my way to community action. OLHSA, A Community Action Agency, was founded in 1964 as part of President...

Sep26

Mental health & children: How you can help your child deal with stress

OLHSA’s resident expert on children’s mental health, Stacy Green, LMSW, associate director for mental health and disabilities, shares tips about childhood trauma/Stress at multiple levels and how to support a child going through trauma or stress. 

First, it’s important to distinguish levels of stress. Daily life gives us stress, and children and...

Sep22

What it’s like to work at OLHSA - a day with Richena Lawrence

8:45 a.m.

My day begins. I’m a Client Service Coordinator for OLHSA, which means I help people find and receive the assistance they need in order to improve their lives. I often greet families and individuals on one of their worst days…the day their water has been shut off, the day they get a crushingly large heat bill in the mail with no means to pay it, or the day they realize they may not find another job soon and need help making ends meet. It’s...

Aug23

Community Ventures provides Flint residents with employment opportunities and support in Livingston County

Community Ventures (CV) is an innovative economic development initiative that promotes employment and social enterprise in the state’s most distressed urban areas. CV is coordinated by the Michigan Department of Talent & Economic Development and helps structurally unemployed residents of Flint, Detroit, Saginaw and Pontiac pursue career opportunities in Michigan companies. 
 

CV eligible Flint and Pontiac residents who are employed with a CV employer receive wrap-...

Aug23

Summer Bash offers healthy snacks and activities to Pontiac families

Thanks to a grant through the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, OLHSA was able to offer many healthy events this summer to Pontiac families, including Summer Bash in July. Summer Bash saw close to 200 families and featured activities such as smoothie bikes, bounce houses, a visit with the Detroit Lions mascot, Roary, and a rock climbing wall. Attendees also enjoyed music and visits from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Star...

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