Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk

The Coalition Against Poverty in Suffolk (CAPS) was established to be a collaborative effort to address poverty on two levels: level 1 - the crisis of an immediate need and level 2 - the underlying causes of these needs. CAPS is a growing group of churches in Suffolk working together for poverty alleviation and community development. By sharing resources, information and support our efforts are synergized for the development of our city. Currently 24 churches and organizations are participating members. CAPS was started in mid 2010 to create a collaborative and coordinated system to meet the financial, physical, mental and spiritual needs of members of our community.

The CAPS model for addressing poverty is to create a central intake center for Suffolk at which a Services Coordinator will handle requests for assistance that usually go to churches. Rather than each church handling requests individually, churches will direct requests for assistance to CAPS. Member churches will jointly hire a Services Coordinator who will be based at the Salvation Army office. The Salvation Army will effectively become a one-stop center for requests for various types of help. The CAPS Services Coordinator will assess the needs of every individual, assist financially when appropriate (using funds provided by churches) and refer individuals to appropriate follow-up services, often provided by churches.

Mission:: CAPS is a group of churches and organizations working together for poverty alleviation and community development. By sharing resources, information and support our efforts are synergized for the development of our city.

Vision: We envision Suffolk churches and organizations united and empowered to accomplish Christ’s commission. We envision individuals and families living with dignity as they participate in CAPS ministries and experience holistic gospel transformation.

Values:

Social Justice - a society in which people treat one another as image bearers of God

Racial Reconciliation - a value for the richness and blessing of diversity

Work - working is part of God’s blessing and part of being human

Participation - we are all participants in the process of community development, reconciliation and transformation.

Evangelism – the gospel is implicit in our actions and explicit in our words

Discipleship - striving together to become more Christ-like