Statements
Mission
CCSI's mission is to equip and empower underserved families, through caring relationships, to achieve a legacy of social, spiritual, and economic self-sufficiency. CCSI has a proven track record of helping families progress from government dependency to housing self-sufficiency and greater wellbeing. CCSI also helps low to moderate income families achieve financial stability and home ownership. CCSI has a unique approach to financial stability that addresses both the mindsets and behaviors that impact money management decisions. We provide the tools, encouragement, mentoring, accountability and some start up asset funds needed to reduce debt, improve credit, increase savings and achieve long-term asset goals such as home ownership, higher education or establishing a small business. There is a community and economic impact by families moving from government dependency to self-sufficiency. The economic impact of CCSI has achieved an estimated savings of $3.2 million to taxpayers in government subsidies by families no longer needing/receiving government assistance and moving into their own homes or private fair market rentals. Additionally, over 161 families have become homeowners and contributed to the local economy over $23 million dollars in housing sales and estimated property taxes over a million dollars in 27 years. The community benefits from increased numbers of stable families getting involved in their communities and contributing to the local economy. Additionally, the added value of improved prospects and quality of life for families and children is priceless.
Background
In 1997, Christian Community Services, Inc. was created by Dr. David Jones, Jr. and Dr. Rubel Shelly as a joint initiative of Schrader Lane Church of Christ, a predominately African American congregation located in North Nashville, and Woodmont Hills Family of God, a predominately Caucasian congregation located in South Nashville. The goal was to strengthen diverse congregational collaborations, while making a meaningful impact on the lives of Nashville families from low-income backgrounds, specifically those living in the Vine Hill, Sam Levy, Preston Taylor, and John Henry Hale, Hope VI communities. Increasing self-sufficiency was CCSI's chosen focus because self-sufficiency, especially economic self-sufficiency, is key to the health and wellbeing of families and communities. When CCSI first started, most participants were recruited from the targeted Hope VI communities. Community awareness has increased each year, most significantly within the last three years. The greatest number of referrals now come from program participants, graduates/alumni, volunteers, and from other community organizations and partners who have worked with our graduates or heard about the CCSI brand and need a resource. The majority of referrals to CCSI come from word of mouth by alumni as well as volunteers and other supporters, while the next largest number come from MDHA, Habitat for Humanity and other community partners. CCSI currently offers three primary programs that address its mission: Basic Financial Training (BFT), Mentoring Towards Independence (MTI), and Homebuyer Education (both pre-purchase and post-purchase). The programs differ in focus and intensity, but each has economic empowerment and wellbeing as a central theme. CCSI's work is accomplished by three full-time staff, and approximately 100 volunteers annually. Volunteers contribute thousands of hours of service each year as class facilitators, tutors, food teams, mentors, and administrative support, which significantly helps to contain program costs and sustain quality services to participants. Today, CCSI's reach extends far beyond that of the small grassroots effort that began 25 years ago. Heightened awareness of CCSI's successful impact has also increased demand for services. With the core sustaining support (founding churches, grants, dedicated individual donors) event during the pandemic primary services were maintained and supplemental benevolent services were extended beyond normal.
Impact
When families leave subsidized housing, purchase a home, or start a small business, there are immediate and tangible benefits to the families and to our community. Since 2000, over 180 CCSI graduates have left subsidized housing to fair market rent housing or home-ownership, freeing up an estimated more than $3.2 million in subsidies (the cumulative amount of public funds that would have been spent to date if the families had continued to live in subsidized housing). Since 2000, over 161 MTI graduates purchased homes, investing over $23 million dollars in local real estate. Our homeowners generated an estimated over $1 million dollars in revenue through annual property tax payments in the last 27 years. These public revenue gains continue to increase over time. Since 2000, over 850 persons have graduated from Basic Financial Training, and have demonstrated evidence of creating a budget, steps toward credit repair and importance of a healthy emergency fund. Since 2000, over 338 persons have completed the Phase One, 9-month skill-building component of the Mentoring Towards Independence program, and over 161 have become self-sufficient by moving from government dependency to home ownership or paying fair market rent. Others have used their Individual Development Accounts for higher education (20+ received degrees), or small-business start-up (15+).
During the COVID pandemic, the 2020-2021 Mentoring Towards Independence (MTI) program began in September 2020 with 18 families in the cohort and 15 families graduated in May 2021 despite the fact we had to quickly pivot and conduct most programming virtually. During those 9 months, as a group they paid off $51,117 in debt and saved $35,269 in their emergency funds and Individual Development Accounts. Their credit scores increased by an average of 48 points with the greatest increase of 87 points. Their financial wellbeing scores increased on average by 5 points with the highest of 22 points even during a pandemic. During the 2020-2021 program year, five MTI Savers were able to purchase a home while three others started a business and three achieved higher education degrees. During the 2020-2021 program year CCSI served 34 Homebuyer Education customers who purchased homes through THDA resulting in $7,361,247.00 invested in the economy with their home purchases.
CCSI's current priorities: Rebuilding staff and volunteer capacity to pre-pandemic levels as needed. Ambassador Program: CCSI is in the process of re-establishing an Ambassador Program consisting of volunteers, board members, current and former program participants and graduates and business impact partners. The goal is to train these advocates to utilize their networks to secure additional volunteers, business and financial impact partners, program participants and serve as a CCSI speaker's bureau. Also, to develop a structured approach to an alumni group. Resource development: to further expand and diversify CCSI's funding base, continue to increase market awareness of CCSI's work in Middle Tennessee, and create more formal partnerships or collective impact initiatives with organizations working toward similar goals. Staff Development: Continue to increase the level of technological and other relevant areas of competency of our current staff, and and volunteers. Program Development: Better incorporate the use of technology into programming to enhance intake, service delivery, and database tracking and monitoring of outcomes/impact. We made progress on this goal during the pandemic and the necessity of a virtual approach but will continue a strategic approach to this goal. This will help the small staff continue to offer quality service even as the need and number of participants continue to increase. A technology assessment was conducted and was used to inform technology goals in the strategic plan.
Needs
1. General operating support to assist with capacity-building. CCSI employs a staff of 3 full-time employees to provide services for over 100 + program participants in the three programs pipeline annually, as well as the oversight and outreach for the organization. As the need and demand for services increases, the budget and staff capacity become stretched. $30,000 would support services for a greater percentage of eligible families.2. Individual Development Account (IDA) matched funding -IDA's to facilitate asset development are proven tools for poverty reduction. CCSI offers an IDA for participants in the MTI program (approximately 15-20 families per year). Participants save $1,666 and CCSI matches up to a total of $3,334. Funds can only be used for home or business ownership or higher education. An IDA endowment fund of $100,000 would sustain IDAs, and allow transportation and rent crisis needs to be better addressed. Transportation and school loan debt are two major barriers for CCSI families. 3. Marketing and Volunteers - $20,000 would help provide CCSI with needed part-time staff for event marketing, fundraising, donor management, and volunteer coordination needs. 4. Enhance the CCSI two-generation program meaning the children are also engaged in a development process.
CEO Statement
My first visit to CCSI was in 2009, by invitation of a volunteer. I visited the Mentoring Towards Independence (MTI) Tuesday night meeting and joined the group of volunteers and participants around the CCSI family table for dinner. Later I observed the presentations in the adult class and visited the infant toddler classroom. The joy and enthusiasm of the staff, volunteers, and participants as they shared challenges, celebrated good news/successes, highlighted birthdays, and encouraged each other was infectious! I immediately became a volunteer. Who wouldn't want to be a part of such meaningful work?After seven years as a volunteer, the time was right and I became the executive director in April 2016. I have completed my 6th year in the role. From this vantage point I'm even more in love with CCSI and appreciative of the original vision of its founders. The desire for families to become self-sufficient and achieve greater wellbeing is facilitated by utilizing the avenue of a transformative experience in CCSI. We provide a solid foundation as we grow and adapt to the increasing needs of the families and communities we serve within the ever changing landscape of Nashville. The participant families are not the only ones who are transformed by their CCSI experience, so are the volunteers, and staff. in 2022 CCSI is 25 Years Strong and has solid data to quantify aspects of its impact. For instance, 161 participants have become homeowners, over 20 have received higher education degrees, and over 15 started a business. An estimated subsidy savings of over 3 million dollars has been saved by CCSI alumni no longer needing or receiving various forms of public assistance and over 23 million has been contributed to the local economy via home purchases by CCSI alumni. While these numbers are impressive, they don't tell the entire story. I'm moved by seeing families and children who glow with the confidence and pride of leaning into their purpose, becoming the first one in their family to own a home or get a degree and to know they are leaving a legacy of new habits and behaviors that will serve the next generation well. You can't put a number value on this type of transformative outcome, yet these are the outcomes that in my view, best define CCSI. I am honored to be a part of this work of service. CCSI has a unique relational approach with proven success. I invite any of you who want to make a meaningful difference to join the CCSI Family and/or support us on this journey of positive transformation. Rietta Turner, Executive Director
Board Chair Statement
CCSI is the model for God's mission and purpose for his followers here on earth. Our initial mission statement is "to seek and save" the lost. The bible does not restrict us to pulpit platitudes though they are necessary and vital. However, the great commission encourages us to "go into all the world" and actively pursue His aim for our work. CCSI has taken this assignment to heart by starting in our own "backyard" the city of Nashville. Our fundamental charge entails seeking families who may be down on their luck, so to speak, who need assistance at changing their lifestyles. Another portion of this undertaking involves our modeling a more productive lifestyle and then mentoring families into independence. CCSI's enterprise of help and gradual release has proven to be successful over the past 20 years. However, we have never allowed the modicum of success to set the pace for future goals and ambitions. A short walk through our 'halls' reveals a bustling, small but incredibly effective, work force. One of the primary drivers is a former mentee, giving credence to our "mantra dream invest, and achieve your goals." We are getting better at what we do. We're much more efficient and more effective. Our numbers continue to grow. Our families are stronger after completing the program. Once we choose them and they come out of the gate they are running full speed! Many are giving back to CCSI in many ways. And so, the cyclical process of reciprocation has begun and we're excited! I think I can say, without contradiction, that there is no other program like CCSI in the country. Now, we boast of strong families, more engaged parents?including fathers, successful children in school, business owners, homeowners, entrepreneurs, and adults receiving degrees in higher education! And we're not slowing down a bit!! Finally, I believe we are achieving the dream that Dr. David Jones, Jr. and Dr. Rubel Shelly envisioned and articulated to us more than 20 years ago. These men of faith foresaw a manner in which we could fulfill God's commission and at the same time find good work for our hands to do. Darwin L. Mason, Sr. Chairperson 2017
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Human Services - Financial Counseling |
| Secondary Category: | Human Services - Family Services |
| Tertiary Category: | Community Improvement, Capacity Building - Community & Neighborhood Development |
Areas Served
CCSI serves Metropolitan Nashville, Davidson County, and surrounding counties in Tennessee.
| TN - Davidson |
