Miami Valley Community Action Partnership, led by Erin Jeffries since January 2024, is OUCAN’s Member of the Month for February 2025. The mission of MVCAP is to work in partnership with local communities to eliminate the causes and conditions of poverty and to promote individual independence and self-sufficiency.
MVCAP, founded in 1964, serves as the designated Community Action Agency for Darke, Greene, Montgomery and Preble counties. Additionally, MVCAP’s Home Weatherization Assistance Program extends into Auglaize, Butler, Mercer, Miami and Warren counties.
MVCAP is well known for its core Community Action programs. Its best kept secret, according to Erin, is its Legal Clinic’s Driver’s License Reinstatement Program. MVCAP serves approximately 10,000 clients annually and employs 125 staff members. Erin shared how she came to MVCAP and some of her agency’s greatest achievements.
Can you tell us a little about your background and how you became involved with the community action agency?
I was appointed to MVCAP’s Board of Trustees in August 2019 while serving as the Community Development Manager for the City of Dayton. In that position, I oversaw the city’s affordable housing, community development, and homelessness assistance program.
During the summer of 2019, MVCAP pivoted and mobilized to provide support in the aftermath of two local tragedies – an outbreak of tornadoes on Memorial Day 2019, and a mass shooting in Dayton’s entertainment district. I was impressed by MVCAP’s great work in the community and thrilled to serve as the City of Dayton’s representative on MVCAP’s Board. When MVCAP posted the position of Chief Operating Officer in January 2020, I was excited to explore a new path in my career serving an organization that was on the front lines of community transformation.
What inspired you to work within the Ohio urban community action network?
Before joining MVCAP, my career was focused on community development and grant administration at the local government level. As a grant maker, I partnered with local non-profits like MVCAP to fund housing developments and programming for low-income families in Dayton. Through those partnerships, I was energized to see how the funds were making a difference for individuals and families in our city.
Moving from local government to MVCAP was an exciting and fulfilling foray into direct assistance. At MVCAP, I serve alongside an extremely talented team dedicated to meeting the needs of our neighbors, lowering the cost of living for families, and changing the circumstances and perceptions of those experiencing poverty.
MVCAP is unique because we serve a mix of urban and rural areas. Each community in our service area is diverse in its assets and opportunities. We’re fortunate to have partnerships with OUCAN and each of its member agencies to help amplify our voices, provide vital resources that shape and guide our programming, and share best practices and successes in our ever-changing funding landscape.
Can you share a memorable experience you’ve had while working with the agency?
I joined MVCAP in October 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, MVCAP was fortunate to have received an incredible influx of funding to help keep people in their homes and keep their utilities connected – CSBG CARES funding, CARES funding through Montgomery County, funding from OHFA, and more.
In my first week as COO, we were notified that one of our partners was ending a rental assistance program six weeks early, giving us just three more weeks to fully expend the $5 million grant. The next day, the State of Ohio announced the Ohio Home Relief Grant program that would start in less than a week.
I quickly learned that Community Action is equipped and willing to pivot quickly to meet the needs of the communities. Our team banded together to spend the remainder of the grant on the retracted schedule and to roll out a meaningful application process, virtually, for the new grant program.
What do you consider your most significant achievement within the agency?
Our team has accomplished remarkable achievements in the last five years. From mobilizing to provide aid after the Memorial Day tornadoes in 2019, to providing critical assistance during the pandemic, to processing a record volume of applications during the 2024 HEAP Summer Crisis program, to successfully advocating for additional funding from state, local, and private funders, the MVCAP team has been poised to respond to the evolving needs of our community in real time. I am incredibly proud of my team and honored to serve with them.
How has your work impacted the community you serve?
MVCAP’s work influences the communities we serve in countless ways. One of our most unique programs is our CSBG Legal Clinic Program. I’m not aware of any other CAAs with in-house legal services. We focus primarily on driver’s license reinstatement, but at times have provided record sealing services and eviction prevention. Providing driver’s license reinstatement services removes a barrier to employment and helps individuals and families take a pivotal step in reaching self-sufficiency.
Can you share a success story that highlights the agency’s impact on an individual or family?
A client came to MVCAP Harding Place transitional housing after an extended period of substance abuse, experiencing homelessness, and losing custody of her two children. During her time at Harding Place, she experienced several setbacks, including drug usage relapses and health issues. With the support of her case manager, this client was able to get back on a better path for her and her family. Eventually, she regained custody of her children and received a voucher that enabled her to move into a two-bedroom residence. This story exemplifies the importance of transitional housing and other systems that allow residents the time necessary to stabilize their lives.
What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your role?
Navigating the ever-changing landscape at the state and federal level while continuing to provide vital services to our community.
How have you and your team overcome these challenges?
This year, we’ll develop a new strategic plan that will help us navigate short-term and long-term funding and programmatic challenges. We’ll work together to assess the needs of the community and diversify our programs and funding sources so that MVCAP will continue its long legacy of serving the Miami Valley.
What innovative solutions have you implemented to address community needs?
In 2024, we began a partnership with a local Department of Job and Family Services to manage their Prevention, Retention, and Contingency program. This service contract is closely aligned with our CSBG Emergency Services program, allowing us to augment an existing program to better meet the needs of families in our urban county. The funding diversification allows us to supplement additional grant resources and enhance our reach in the community.
What is your vision for the future of the community action agency?
MVCAP’s vision is to continue our work to lower the cost of living for the families in our service area by providing a wide range of impactful programming that adapts to the needs of the community.
What goals do you hope to achieve in the next five years?
- Diversify our programming offerings and funding streams so we remain agile and relevant as funding and regulations change.
- Develop a new 3-year strategic plan.
- Better advocate the importance of our network and the successes of our agency at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Restructure and realign our departments to remove barriers for clients and increase our effectiveness and efficiency.
How do you plan to involve the community in achieving these goals?
Our Board of Trustees recently implemented County Advisory Committees to seek input from stakeholders in all the communities we serve. This is a helpful first step in engaging the community to learn about our programs, advocate for the needs of our community, and give meaningful feedback on our service offerings.
Additionally, we seek feedback from all clients we serve through a satisfaction survey. MVCAP is fortunate to serve our community alongside a dedicated cadre of non-profits and social service providers, and we’re grateful for their insights into our communities and suggestions for program alignment.
What does the 40th anniversary of the OUCAN network mean to you?
This milestone highlights the longevity and resilience of our network, and underscores the impact we’ve had in fighting poverty across Ohio’s urban communities. It’s a testament to the collective efforts of staff, partners, volunteers and leaders who’ve worked with unwavering commitment to change lives. For me and my agency, it’s a call to honor that legacy by stepping up to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
What excites me most about the future of Community Action is the potential for transformative change. We have the opportunity to address emerging challenges in ways that empower families and strengthen communities. The resilience and creativity within this network inspire me every day, and I truly believe the best is yet to come.
How has the agency evolved over the past 40 years?
Over the years, I’ve seen the Community Action model evolve to meet changing needs. From expanding partnerships to embracing data-driven decision-making, we’re more dynamic than ever. At my agency, we’re exploring ways to integrate technology and automation to streamline processes like application reviews and service delivery, ensuring we’re not just meeting needs but anticipating them. This adaptability is how we continue to stay relevant and impactful, even in the face of shrinking resources and growing demands.
What advice would you give to someone looking to get involved in community action work?
What are you waiting for? There’s a place for every member of our community in the Community Action movement – from serving on the Board of Trustees, to volunteering at outreach events, to exploring a career path in housing services or social services, to advocating for funding at state and federal levels – there’s room for everyone in Community Action. Getting involved at any level helps further the mission of reducing poverty in our communities and changing lives for each individual and family we serve.
Who has been your biggest inspiration in your career, and why?
One of my biggest inspirations in my career has been Barbara Jordan. I had the privilege of meeting her in the fourth grade, and even at that young age, I was struck by her presence, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to justice and public service. She showed me the power of using your voice to advocate for others and the importance of integrity in leadership.
Her example has stayed with me throughout my career, especially in my work within the Community Action Network. Like Barbara Jordan, I believe in the power of institutions to serve people with dignity, in the responsibility of leadership to be both principled and inclusive, and in the need to challenge barriers that hold people back. Her legacy reminds me that change happens when we stand firm in our values, listen to those we serve, and work tirelessly to build a more just and equitable society.
What legacy do you hope to leave within the community?
I hope to leave a legacy of empowerment, resilience, and meaningful change within our community. My goal is to ensure that individuals and families have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive—not just survive. Through my work with MVCAP and the broader Community Action Network, I want to strengthen the foundation for economic stability, housing security, and equity-driven support systems that will outlast my time in leadership.
Beyond programs and policies, I want to help cultivate a culture of collaboration, compassion, and advocacy—a community where people look out for one another, where leaders listen, and where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, feels valued and seen. If, years from now, people can say that our efforts made a lasting difference in their lives and that we left the community stronger and more united, that would be the legacy I hope to leave.
