In this newsletter...

Upcoming Events
LEAP Applications Are Open
Student Loan Forgiveness Update
Decrease in SNAP Benefits
Contact Your Coach If You Have Medical Debt
Down-Payment Assistance Programs for First-Time Home Buyers
Career Corner
Free and Low Cost Internet

JPP Monthly Family Meeting

Join us TONIGHT, November 21st, 2022 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at Head Start! Food and childcare will be provided.

The Action Center Will Be Providing Thanksgiving Food!

Thanksgiving food distribution will be at their regular food distribution location this year:

Location: 8745 W. 14^th Ave.
Dates: November 21 & 22
Hours: 8:30 am -4:30 pm.

There is no registration! This is a bonus distribution and does not count towards the regular 14 day distribution. For more information visit: https://theactioncenter.org/events/

Circle of Security Parenting

You're not alone. Sometimes it's hard to tell what your child needs, what her behaviors mean and if you're doing right by him. Imagine what it might feel like if you could make sense of what your child is really asking from you.

Circle of Security Parenting is an opportunity to join other parents just like you, for an 8-week class where you'll learn to:

Strengthen your relationship with your child
Be present with your child during the best and toughest of times
Recognize your child's needs and make sense of his or her behavior
Meet your child's needs by being bigger, stronger, wiser and kind

Who should attend: Any and all caregivers with children 12 yrs or younger
Location: Independence Office: 4851 Independence St, Wheatridge, CO, 80033
Dates: 10/24/2022 - 12/19/22 weekly
Times: Mondays 11:30am - 1:00 pm
Cost: Free for clients with Medicaid, $37 per session for self-pay clients
How to register: Ask your provider, or your child's provider, to make a referral on your behalf
Presented by: Family Services Outpatient Team
Sponsored by: Jefferson Center Family Services Team

Applications for LEAP Are Now Open!

Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 winter season.

The LEAP program works to keep our communities warm during the winter (November through April) by providing assistance with heating costs, equipment repair and/or replacement of inoperable heating tools. While the program is not intended to pay the entire cost of home heating, it aims to help alleviate some of the burdens that come with Colorado's colder months.

To learn more and apply click or scan the QR code and your JPP coach can assist you with the application.

Student Loan Forgiveness Opportunities

Student Debt Relief Applications Are Paused

Courts have issued orders blocking the student debt relief program. As a result, at this time, applications are not being accepted. We are seeking to overturn those orders. If you've already applied, we'll hold your application. Subscribe and check back here for updates.

The Project on Predatory Student Lending

Over the past several decades, millions of students borrowed federal student loans to attend various for-profit colleges, including ITT Technical Institute, Corinthian Colleges, the Art Institutes, Salter College, Brooks Institute of Photography, and more. The schools falsely promised students high-paying jobs, state-of-the-art vocational training, and long and fulfilling careers. Individuals who borrowed student loans to attend colleges like these (full list in link below) are entitled to 100% reimbursement!

To learn more visit: www.ppsl.org and speak with your coach to see if you qualify for loan forgiveness.

Food Assistance Monthly Allotment is Decreasing

“FYI: Be prepared and plan ahead! As pandemic support winds down in the state of Colorado, this means that you may see your food assistance monthly allotment drop in the next few months. The following link gives some more information about each state’s COVID benefits: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/covid-19-emergency-allotments-guidance

Reach out to your JPP coach for more information or if you need support planning for this change!

Do you currently have Medical Debt from you or your children?

Please contact your coach if you do! JPP wants to hear more about the challenges you may be facing due to these debts.

Down-Payment Assistance Programs for First-Time Home Buyers

The Dearfield Fund is a down-payment assistance program serving Black and African-American homebuyers. It was launched by Gary Community Ventures, a Denver-based social impact organization committed to addressing the racial wealth gap.
The Fund provides up to $40,000 in down-payment support in the form of a shared-equity investment.

The support from the program will count towards the down-payment for the home you are looking to purchase.

While this amount is provided to you as a loan, you are not required to make any monthly payments and you will not be charged any interest. Instead, you will repay the amount in full plus a small share of the appreciation (up to 5%) in your home’s value, when you sell or refinance your home in the future.

Who qualifies for the Dearfield Fund down-payment assistance?

Available to income-eligible Black and African-1 American borrowers
Be a first-time homebuyer2 and complete a first-time homebuyer course
Qualify for a FirstBank Mortgage
Purchase a primary residence in the Denver metro area

Take advantage of UMB’s first-time homebuyer grant or our down payment assistance program!

UMB has two approaches to help you reach your goal of homeownership:

A Grant: Qualifying borrowers can receive a one-time grant of up to 3% or 5% of the purchase price of their home to be used as a down payment and an additional 2% to be used towards closing costs; or 1
Down Payment Assistance: Qualifying borrowers can finance up to 100% of the purchase price of their new home.2

Key benefits of these programs:

If you qualify for a grant, there is no need to repay the grant - ever.
No application or origination fee.
No private mortgage insurance (‘PMI’) to pay.
Only fixed-rate loans with fixed monthly principal and interest payments are available under these programs.

Qualifications/Criteria:

Must be a first-time homebuyer. You are considered a first-time homebuyer if you have not owned a home in the prior three years.
Income limits apply.
Properties must be located where UMB operates, are limited to designated counties within Kansas City, St. Louis, Denver, Dallas/ Fort Worth, and Phoenix, and may be limited to designated census tracts.
Properties must be single-family properties used as a primary residence and owner-occupied.
Borrower must provide proof of $600 in verified funds.
Borrowers must successfully complete a homeownership education course from a UMB-approved source before loan approval and funding.

To learn more about this program visit: UMB.com/FirstHome
If you are interested in applying, speak with your JPP coach today!

November 2022 - Career Workshops - Contact your coach to register today!

Serve with AmeriCorps at Colorado Youth for a Change in one of four programs!

Organization Overview:

Colorado Youth for a Change (CYC) is an educational nonprofit organization with a statewide scope. CYC’s mission is to solve Colorado’s dropout crisis. CYC provides a continuum of services from Prekindergarten through High School to help students find success through tutoring, case management, and outreach to help in-school youth remain in school or out-of-school youth return to school. Math Corps is a step along that continuum to support students.

What you'll do:

Serve 1200 hours in a Colorado school from August 2022-May 2023, helping guide students to success. No prior teaching experience is necessary, just compassion and a commitment to helping students!

What you'll get:

$2,400 monthly living stipend
Health insurance
Holistic professional development
$4,546 education award to put towards past or future tuition
Access to free counseling support services
Federal Loan Forbearance
The knowledge that you are making a difference for Colorado students!

Positions Available: Early Learning Tutor, K-3 Elementary Literacy Tutor, Math Enrichment Tutor, Engagement Support Member

If you are interested in these positions, talk to your coach to apply today!

Open Warehouse Positions!

Benefits in Action is hiring a Food Warehouse Manager and Warehouse Coordinator and delivery driver. Benefits in Action is a non-profit organization in Colorado dedicated to the understanding, access, and utilization of health-related benefits to enhance health and wellbeing of those in the community.

The Food Warehouse Manager is responsible for the Benefits in Action food delivery program including food and supply procurement, working with warehouse and food packing staff and volunteers, working with food delivery staff and volunteers, and supervises the Food Delivery IT/delivery coordinator.

Full time position, requiring evening and Saturday work

Salary range: $47,000 - $54,000 with full benefit package and paid time off

The Warehouse Coordinator and delivery driver is responsible for building connections with households who are food insecure. The position consists primarily of loading delivery vehicles and making food box deliveries in Jefferson, Denver, Adams, and Arapahoe counties.

Part or full-time, hourly position, requiring occasional evening and weekend work

Salary Range: Starting wage is $17.00-$20.00 per hour

If you are interested in either role, please send resume to [email protected]

Free and Low Cost Internet Service

Did you know you can receive free or low cost Internet services? The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a U.S. government program that helps many low income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices.

Visit the Affordable Connectivity Program website to apply!