Even with no more state funding and the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the programs set up via a poverty reduction initiative are still in operation.

Last month, an Empire State Poverty Reduction Initiative (ESPRI) task force meeting was hosted by the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County to discuss the five-year final report to the community.

Amy Rohler, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County executive director, told The Post-Journal that six of the seven ESPRI programs established by community agencies are still in operation.

“Some of them found support through local foundations, some through federal grants and some incorporated their program into existing services,” she said. “Four of the original seven programs did find additional bridge funding.”

ESPRI was first introduced by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo during his State of the State address in 2016. Jamestown was one of 16 cities in the state selected to receive $1 million in funding to participate in the poverty reduction program. In addition, in the 2019-20 state budget, Jamestown was awarded an additional $180,000 in funding for the ESPRI program. Some of the programs also received additional bridge funding from local foundations and agencies for their program. The funding went toward programs that assist people in securing and retaining employment; support employers and employees; educational preparation; and family and community support for employment.

The Jamestown ESPRI task force consists of representatives from the city, county and state government; local school district and educational organizations; nonprofit and faith-based community organizations; local businesses that employ local people; workforce service entities; economic development organizations; public safety officials; and health services providers.

The local task force, which was created by the United Way of Southern Chautauqua County and is the administrator of Jamestown’s ESPRI program, has been meeting since November 2016 to develop a plan for solutions to help those living in poverty in Jamestown.

In May 2018, the planning process transitioned into an implementation operation as Jamestown’s ESPRI task force had selected local agencies to start programs to reach the goal of decreasing the number of ALICE families in the city by 160 by 2027. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed that represents nearly 8,000 city households.

The organizations that received funding for programs included Community Helping Hands, The Resource Center, Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County, Jamestown Community College, Jamestown Public Schools, Jamestown Community Learning Council and the YWCA of Jamestown.

Rohler said it’s not known exactly how many ALICE families received assistance through the programs. She said it’s known that 466 unduplicated households in Jamestown have been impacted by ESPRI programs.

“We know that because we used a shared database,” she said. “That is how we pulled collective data out so we know how many unduplicated households.”

According to the executive summary of Jamestown’s ESPRI program, 53% of the individuals impacted were female, 19% were Hispanic, 62% were working-age adults ages 26-64. The average cost per household served was $2,533; 214 individuals secured employment; 101 have enrolled in education, certification and training programs; 360 engaged with a coach, mentor or support staff identifying goals and steps to move them out of poverty or ALICE; $69,104 in emergency assistance to 205 households, primarily for barriers related to childcare, transportation and housing;14 local employers whose “at-risk” employees were supported by ESPRI programs; and 156 “at-risk” employees who retained their employment.

Rohler said the COVID-19 pandemic did change a lot of aspects of ESPRI programs. However, she said one of the unexpected benefits of the initial ESPRI planning that was helpful during the pandemic was each program was able to adapt.

“We built a culture of adaptation from the beginning,” she said. “This allowed the agencies to be able to navigate the impacts of COVID.”

Rohler said the programs started via ESPRI are important to continue.

“Just because ESPRI has ended doesn’t mean that we can’t continue convening as a group to work toward poverty reduction,” she said.