SEK-CAP to move one of its Fort Scott offices

Southeast Kansas Community Action Program is relocating its Family and Community Services office, 212 E. First St., Fort Scott, to Iola, effective July 12.

The family and community services office will be located with SEK-CAP's early childhood program at the new Family Development Center, 525 Kennedy Ave., in Iola. Construction on that facility is nearing completion and SEK-CAP Family and Community Services for Allen, Bourbon, Linn and Woodson counties will shift to that location, a news release said.

Owning its own facility will help SEK-CAP save money. One of its main sources of income, in addition to local and state funding, comes from a $795,214 Community Services Block Grant. That grant was recently cut by 2.7 percent, or $23,745, Executive Director Steve Lohr said.

Celebrating its 45th year, SEK-CAP is a nonprofit organization serving 12 southeast Kansas counties. Headquartered in Girard, it was created in 1966 to combat poverty. Programs include Head Start, Early Head Start, housing and home weatherization, family and community services, emergency shelter and general public transportation. The agency rented its First Street location in Fort Scott for nine years.

Work on the Iola facility began five months ago and Lohr said the office will move to its new quarters this coming week.

"It's a great opportunity," Lohr said. "It's a nice investment. We will continue serving the same population. We'll continue partnering with The Beacon and others that serve the same constituency."

"We are excited about our new center in Iola and the opportunity we have to provide a full range of services in one location. We appreciate the support we have received from the Fort Scott community through the years. Happily, we maintain our partnership with USD 234 in the Preschool Center, located at 409 S. Judson and will serve all of our customers in the area without disruption," he added.

Brent Shore, SEK-CAP area community services specialist, will continue working directly with families in Fort Scott. The majority of people who stopped into the Family and Community Services office were looking for help with applications for U.S. Housing and Urban Development and utility assistance. "We don't offer energy assistance, SRS (the Kansas Department of Rehabilitative Services) does," Lohr said.

Help with applications can be found on the SEK-CAP Web site at www.sek-cap.com, or by calling the Girard administrative offices or Shore. He can also work directly with the customer to help complete an application, if needed.

SEK-CAP serves a 12-county area, in addition to Allen, Bourbon, Linn and Woodson. Those include Chautauqua, Elk, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho and Wilson. "SEK-CAP manages 56 rental properties, 20 centers or offices, and has about 150 vehicles on the road at any given time," Lohr said. CSBG funding helps to pay for all of that, he added.