[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 131 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO THE OAKLAND LIVINGSTON HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2004

  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Oakland 
Livingston Human Service Agency as it celebrates its 40th anniversary 
as a community action agency. I commend their years of service and 
dedication to improving our community.
  In 1964, the Economic Opportunity Act was enacted into law and 
provided stimulation and incentive for urban and rural communities to 
mobilize their resources to combat poverty through community action 
programs. That same year, Judge Carl F. Ingraham, Oakland County 
Executive Daniel T. Murphy, and James P. Dickerson created the 
nonprofit agency, the Oakland County Commission of Economic Opportunity 
(OCCEO) to serve Oakland County, Michigan. In 1965, the new agency 
received its first Federal grant, $77,000 from the Office of Economic 
Opportunity. This money allowed the opening of OCCEO's central office 
in Pontiac, Michigan and the hiring of James M. McNeely as its first 
executive officer.
  During its first 10 years, OCCEO served the Oakland County community 
in an effort to eliminate the causes and consequences of poverty. In 
1975, OCCEO began serving Livingston County and the agency's name was 
changed to the Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency (OLHSA).
  Today, OLHSA's mission is to enable the low income, elderly, and 
people with disabilities living in Oakland and Livingston Counties to 
become self-sufficient. Over the years, OLHSA has worked to reduce 
poverty by focusing all available resources toward helping low income 
individuals and families acquire the skills and knowledge they need to 
improve their personal quality of life. Today, the agency operates 74 
programs, employs 575 people, and has an annual budget of more than $30 
million.
  The work OLHSA has done for our community is truly remarkable. I had 
the opportunity to see their good work first-hand last year when I 
celebrated National Homeownership Month with families that OLHSA had 
helped. Through OLHSA's sponsored home-buying counseling classes, 
families participated in eight weeks of counseling and education 
designed to deal with budget and credit issues. This led them to their 
ability to qualify for an affordable mortgage and make their 
homeownership dreams come true. This is just one example of the many 
programs that OLHSA provides to our citizens.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the contributions that OLHSA has made over the 
past 40 years to our community and wish them continued success.

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