Chautauqua Region Community Foundation Field of Interest Grant recently partnered with Chautauqua Opportunities to assist with its Homeownership program. The foundation has awarded COI $500 for the purchase of Workbooks for the Homebuyer Education class.

COI Homeownership program conducts Homebuyer Education classes once a month for persons interested in pursuing homeownership. The class is taught by HUD certified instructors, at a fee of $10.00 for materials, to interested families. By utilizing the Community Foundation award of $500, COI will be able to provide 50 families with the educational material and workbook that will assist them in the home buying process.

The COI Homeownership program of the Housing and Community Services Department would like to thank the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation for their generous contribution to future Chautauqua County Homeowners.

Kathy Fessenden, Director of Youth, Early Care and Education received a check from Diane Petrucci, Beta Sigma Phi member and COI employee.

   Chautauqua County’s runaway youth will sleep a little safer this year with the help of Beta Sigma Phi.

Beta Sigma Phi is a women’s friendship organization made up of women of all ages, interests, education and economic backgrounds. Recently,three hundred nine Chautauqua County women, all members of Beta Sigma Phi gathered at Chautauqua Institution to celebrate life and reflect on times past. A group of chapters from Jamestown, Brocton, Fredonia, Westfield, Elmira, Sherman, and Salamanca formed a committee to host the convention at Chautauqua Institution. It took a year to pull it together but the final result was worth the time and effort.

Money earned by selling raffle tickets for a weekend at the Institution next season and admission money for the convention was donated to various organizations. One of those chosen was the Safe House of Chautauqua County.  A check in the amount of $1,250 was presented to Kathy Fessenden, COI Department Head for Youth, Early Care and Education on December 3, 2003 by COI employee and Beta Sigma Phi member, Diane Petrucci.

The Safe House of Chautauqua County, a program of Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc, is a runaway and homeless youth shelter for ages 17 and under. The 12 bed facility is for both males and females who may stay voluntarily for a period of up to 30 days and are protected under the Federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Act of 1978. The Safe House is committed to providing high quality services for the youth and their families which include immediate crisis intervention, temporary housing, nutritious meals, education and referrals to other community providers. The primary goal of the Safe House is family reunification. If this is not possible, a stable alternative will be secured.

The Safe House offers Independent Living Skills groups, following the OCFS (office of children and family services) curriculum on