CAA continues help and support to thousands of families

Now in its 58^th year, the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico (CAASNM) assisted thousands of families and individuals in southern New Mexico during 2022, the nonprofit said in its 2022 annual report.

“CAA provides are youth entrepreneurship and development, nutrition programs for children, family

financial programs, housing stability and empowerment and,” the report said, as the agency works with about 10,000 families each year. More than 14,000 individuals “engaged with CAASNM reported improved financial wellbeing,” the report said.

CAASNM served Doña Ana and four other southern New Mexico counties.

Here are highlights from the report:

• Through the Family Prosperity Cash Support program funded in part by CAASNM and the W.K. Kellog Foundation, hundreds of single-caregiver families in Las Cruces are receiving $500 a month cash support for 18 months.
• CAASNM provided 594 households with rent and mortgage assistance and engaged in landlord/tenant mediations for 313 families to help avoid eviction.
• CAASNM served more than 4,500 children ages 0-13 through its Child and Adult Food Care, Health Kids Healthy Preschool and Thriving Kids Home Visiting programs. Thriving Kids helped nearly 350 families with young children improve their parenting skills.
• More than 100 youth operated 70 booths at the CAASNM Kids Can Youth Entrepreneurship Business Fair and Contest held Dec. 3 at Plaza de Las Cruces. Nearly 600 children participated in CAASNM before- and after-school activities, including Kids Can, and Doña Ana County’s DescolonizARTE program.
• CAASNM’s Healthy Kids Healthy Preschool program works with more than 40 child development centers and HeadStart programs statewide to develop healthy eating and living practices, and reached about 2,200 children up to age 5.
• About 2,700 children in Doña Ana County received new or gently used warm winter coats through CAASNM’s Coats for Kids program, which celebrates its 30^th anniversary in 2023.

CAASNM helped 411 families start their own business and assisted 817 individuals entering a job training program.

CAASNM had total revenue of more than $5.4 million in 2022. Program services account for 89 percent of its total expenses.

To donate to CAASNM and for more information, call Development Officer Mark Hohnstreiter at 575-202-7500. CAASNM’s main number is 575-527-8799. You can donate online at www.caasnm.org.

CAASNM is located at 3880 Foothills Road.