Robert Goldsmith,
President and CEO

1173 West Main Street
Abingdon, VA 24210

Phone: (276) 623-9000
Fax: (276) 628-2931
peopleinc@naxs.com www.peopleincorp.org

Incorporated: 1964

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STRATEGIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

People, Inc. of Southwest Virginia's services are designed to move people toward increased self-reliance. All of the organization's efforts are directed by the concerns, hopes, and dreams, as well as the needs, of the residents it serves - the low-income people of Southwest Virginia.

Child and Family Services
People, Inc. provides day and after-school care for area children, a Head Start program, and the Early Start Program that includes prenatal and post natal education, child care, and health services. Resource Mothers, a home-based program, provides teenagers with education and support for pregnancy and childbirth. In 2000, People, Inc. provided day and after-school care to more than 200 children; Early Head Start services to 77 families; and support to 150 pregnant and parenting teens.

Economic Development
People, Inc.'s economic development programs include supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs with loans and micro enterprise classes; providing marketing services to home-based craft businesses; establishing Individual Development Accounts (special matched savings accounts) for low-income families; connecting former welfare recipients with cars so that they can find and keep a job; and managing a revolving loan fund for tourism and economic development.

In 2000, People Inc. helped local crafters market their work and bring in a total of $120,000 in sales; provided 12 entrepreneurs with loans to start or expand businesses; taught business basics to nearly 100 people; provided more than 100 welfare recipients with zero-interest loans to purchase a used car; and helped more than 50 low-income families save money for their future through Individual Development Accounts.

Community Services
People, Inc. offers comprehensive community service programs that address all areas of need in the community including health care, shelter and support for domestic violence victims, education activities for children, senior services, support for ex-offenders re-entering the community, and workforce development for former welfare recipients.

In 2000, People, Inc. provided health and social services to more than 1,100 women, children, and families, provided life skills workshops to more than 560 inmates in seven state correctional facilities; and helped 12 adults move from welfare to work.

Affordable Homes
People, Inc.'s housing programs include transitional housing, weatherization services, housing counseling, affordable mortgage packages, and housing construction and rehabilitation. The organization also owns and operates an apartment complex that provides homes to 28 low-income families.

In 2000, People, Inc. helped 12 families become homeowners by providing low-interest loans; rehabilitated, repaired, or weatherized homes for nearly 150 families; enabled more than 110 families to obtain safe drinking water and sewage disposal through its grants program; provided rental subsidies to 110 families; and assisted more than 25 people with transitional housing.