West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. (WCMCA) is located in Elbow Lake, MN and has been in existence since 1965, serving low income households primarily in Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens and Traverse counties in West Central Minnesota. The mission of WCMCA: “Partnering to build community and empower people to overcome poverty and achieve their full potential”. WCMCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity with a 15-member board of directors.
WCMCA currently operates programming in the areas of energy assistance, affordable housing, housing rehabilitation, weatherization, Head Start, homeless services including FHPAP, long term homeless, transitional housing and rapid rehousing programs, supervised visitation, free tax preparation, asset development, financial education, benefits assistance including MNsure navigation services, food assistance, and volunteer driver transportation services. WCMCA has a vast network of partners throughout the service area and has a history of collaborative work.
WCMCA’s implementation of the Ready Ride Senior Transportation Program through the Live Well at Home Grant has provided a solid foundation for building the RTCC. Many connections have been made with area transportation providers, county social services agencies and local non-profits. The outreach that has been done with Ready Ride has allowed for relationship building with not only other service providers but the general public as well.