ALPI administers a number of community services programs for migrant and seasonal farm workers and low-income families. The Community Services Department maintains a focus of state wide service delivery based upon the availability of funds in targeted areas and populations. The programs and services offered are diverse, in that services are provided to farm workers, low income individuals and their families, handicapped workers and youth. Some of the services provided are Emergency Services, Housing, Transportation, Vocational Training, GED, ESOL, Literacy and other support services. The department also serves as a clearinghouse for natural disasters that may affect farm workers. A vast network has been established over the years, which is comprised of agencies, churches, organizations and private groups and/or individuals whereby some provide direct financial assistance, others distribute applications for services, etc. Partnerships and collaborative efforts between ALPI and the communities we serve are critical to the success of service delivery.

Services are provided directly through a volunteer service network made up of forty (40) network partners of diverse community agencies state-wide that assist in the delivery of emergency services to farm workers and income eligible individuals and families. Additionally, there are twenty-six (26) sites in an eight (8) county area that assist directly with energy programs.

PROJECT ACHIEVE
ALPI's Project Achieve Program is located at 100 East Washington Avenue, Pierson, Florida 32180, Volusia County. The program provides the following training services:

CNA - Certified Nurse Assistant Training  VITA - Income Tax Assistance Small Engine Repair Computer Job Search Emergency Assistance ESOL-English as a Second Language GED - High School Equivalency Diploma Citizenship Classes Translation Assistance Job Training, Work Experience, On the Job Training One Stop Information and Referral Assistance Youth Opportunity Programs

LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
The Home Energy Assistance Category allows for a benefit payment on behalf of eligible households who have a heating or cooling obligation. There is one benefit payment per program year of which the amount is based on a home energy assistance matrix.

LIHEAP has three categories of assistance:

Home Energy Assistance category allows for a benefit payment on behalf of eligible households who have a heating or cooling obligation. There is one benefit payment per program year of which the amount is based on a home energy assistance matrix.

Crisis Assistance category allows for a benefit payment on behalf of eligible households having an unavoidable heating season (October- March) or a cooling season emergency (April-September).

Weather Related category is instituted upon declaration or order by the Governor or President that a crisis or an emergency exists due to weather related conditions which would result in a supply of energy that would adversely affect low income households. After March 15th of each year, if the funds are not expended, they may be transferred to the Home Energy category.

HUD (Housing Counseling) The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. (ALPI) is a certified U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Counseling Agency. Eligible homeowners receive housing counseling in the areas of: H.E.M.C., pre-purchase, mortgage default, etc. First time home buyers classes are available in Polk County, Florida and other specified areas upon request.

WIA-167 Support Services This program's focus is to provide emergency support to eligible farm workers who are experiencing multiple barriers that prevent them from accessing and/or obtaining assistance from some other resource to meet their socio-economic needs (i.e.; shelter, food, education, employment and training, transportation and referrals to other resources. Employment and Training This program offers employment, training and educational opportunities through the Project ACHIEVE in Volusia County.

HOUSING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
In 1994 ALPI was awarded $2.7 million by the USDA Rural Development for construction of a fifty-eight (58) unit farm worker rental housing development. The project (New Horizon) was completed in 1995 and is located between Auburndale and Winter Haven, Florida. Since its completion, the project continues to experience a 95-100% occupancy rate under the management of The Agricultural and Labor Housing Development Corporation.

Also during 1994, the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) transferred ownership of a home and three (3) lots to ALPI to develop "first-time" home ownership opportunities for low-income and farm worker families. Through an award of HOME Investment Partnership funds as well as Community Development Block Grant Funding from Polk County Board of County Commissioners/Community Development Department, ALPI rehabilitated the home and constructed three (3) new homes and assisted in the sale of all of these properties to low income and farm worker first-time home buyers.

The Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. is a designated Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) in Polk County Florida.