Posted by Mary Wildermuth on Jul 02, 2018
Program for July 2, 2018: Welcome Shane and Thank YOU Erika!!
Invocation:
Happy News Guests today were potential new member Tonisha  Ladlee and Dennis Holdorf guest of Judi.  John Kuhl is glad to be back and is grateful for all the program help. Paul Fitzgerald enjoyed the ice cream social at the Art Center.  Melanie Alexander is pleased that the ice cream social was a success and thanked all the Rotarians who helped.  Judi Holdorf is celebrating her 47th wedding anniversary.  Alan Ostergren is proud of his daughter who is off to Europe to play as an Iowa Ambassador.  Vicki Kaufmann is happy that her son and family are 1 hour from moving back here!!
 
Program:  Charla Schafer presented an informative program on MCSA . MCSA opened in 1991 as the Y was closing. 81% of the homeless persons in Iowa lack affordable housing. Muscatine is 990 housing units short of meeting the need. It is not unusual for someone in poverty to spend 60-80% of their income on housing in Muscatine.  The single biggest threat to children is living in poverty.  Homelessness includes couch hopping and inhabitable housing. The last stop is usually predatory.  Every move a child makes sets them back 6 months in school.  In Muscatine, children are bussed to their home school from MCSA.
77% of those graduating from college by the age of 24 are in the upper quartile economically, while those in the lowest quartile or 9% graduate by age 24.  
 
MCSA housed 300 persons last year with 74 of those being children.  You have to pay to stay, do a chore and make a case plan.  You receive one free meal a day.  Currently, residents are not asked to leave during the day since the services are provided during the day.  An average stay is 45 days.  MCSA and the Community College are currently providing a very successful welding program.  Two thirds of those in poverty work 1.7 jobs.  Child care is substandard or nonexistant.
Charla is a wealth of knowledge and very passionate about MCSA's mission!!