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Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago | Community Investment eNewsletter | April 2013
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Advisory Council Member Spotlight:
Mary Patoka, President & CEO, CAP Services, Inc. |
 In this Advisory Council Member Spotlight, we asked Mary Patoka her thoughts about her first year of service on the Council, affordable housing as an anti-poverty strategy, and holistic community investment. Mary is the President and CEO of CAP Services, Inc. based in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The organization has been on the frontline of the war on poverty since 1966. It offers nearly three dozen programs to help people attain economic and emotional self-sufficiency. Mary was recently elected as the 2013 Vice Chair of the Advisory Council.
Q: You recently completed your first year of service on the Advisory Council. Looking back, what was your biggest ‘a ha’ moment?
A: It's been a rewarding and insightful year! While I was aware of some of the products offered by the FHLBC, I have learned more not only about the products but the larger framework in which they address the FHLBC’s mission. It’s clear the "value of membership" and the "value of community" drive the way the FHLBC does its business. It ties its own success to that of its members and community partners, creating an environment where the goal is to always attempt to do things better or smarter.
Q: CAP Services is largely focused on designing and implementing anti-poverty strategies. How is affordable housing incorporated into those strategies? And how important is it?
A: The benefits of stable and affordable housing are documented in numerous studies and result in positive social, economic, family, and civic outcomes. It can boost the educational performance of children, induce higher participation in civic and volunteering activity, improve health care outcomes, and more. When we look how to increase the emotional and economic self-sufficiency of our constituency, housing is one of the critical elements. This not only stabilizes families but helps them thrive.
Housing resources can take many forms. Programs like CAP’s Weatherization Assistance Program reduces home energy costs. That puts more money back in people’s wallets to spend on other needs. CAP’s emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and runaway youth offers a short-term solution to address their safety needs. CAP also offers transitional housing to domestic violence victims, providing them a foundation to rebuild if they choose to live apart from their abuser.
Q: You have a strong background in family services and are also a certified economic development specialist. How have these skill sets informed your work?
A: It was clear early in my professional life that work to support families and communities needed to be multi-faceted to be the most effective. For example, you could help someone find a job, but what if you didn’t also address transportation and child care needs? You could help someone start a business but what if they can’t access capital or credit to adequately finance their needs? Our work requires that we constantly ask, “What might we be forgetting?” There will be potential challenges or barriers to our clients' success, but if we can anticipate them, we can either look for better program designs or find partners who can help get the job done.
Community action agencies are often known for creating solutions that might be too risky for the public sector or not profitable enough for the private sector. CAP Services is a vibrant and innovative place to work that encompasses so many dimensions of family and community development. | |  |
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