Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Lvcil provides a range of services for persons with all types of disabilities, including but not limited to, advocacy, skills for independent living, information and referral, peer support, housing search and placement, youth transition services, supported employment services, sign language interpreter referral services and community outreach. Lvcil uses the americans with disabilities act ("ada") as its backbone to offer individual and collective advocacy on issues that impact a person's right to live independently, as well as provides and ada consulting and site survey service called accesscheck. Lvcil also consults with similar organizations on developing programming for youth. Assistive technology needs of consumers are also addressed though several initiatives.lvcil's independent living skills education assists individuals with disabilities who are going to be on their own for the first time, as well as, individuals who need extra support as their disabilities change. Independent living skills enable individuals to obtain the skills necessary to stay independent and be on their own. Lvcil's independent living skills training includes but is not limited to assistance with personal finance, care of the home, cooking, and shopping, and is provided on an individual or group basis.peer support is a non-therapeutic helping relationship between lvcil staff and consumers in which issues relating to life with disability are discussed as well as providing independent living skills training. Consumer-to-consumer peer relationships are facilitated through agency events which include community-based similar age peer social group activities. Information and referral, a staple in most disability services agencies, is provided to consumers, professionals and the community-at-large. It involves providing resources and ideas on topics related to specific disability needs and might range from questions on purchasing a wheelchair modified van to an explanation of rights under the ada. Lvcil is also charged as a center for independent living to work in the community to increase inclusion for all of its residents with disabilities. Lvcil achieves this through staff, board and volunteer participation in nearly fifty local, regional and statewide organizations. Lvcil brings the interests of persons with disabilities to the table and promotes full inclusion in all areas of life.the community outreach work of lvcil had a large influx of activities in the year, thanks to the second year award of the statewide coalition group grant to lvcil. The project unites systems advocacy efforts, outreach and education at all 17 centers for independent living in Pennsylvania. The topics of focus have been advocacy 101, emergency preparedness and voting rights. Lvcil coordinates the project and facilitates the other centers for independent living in receiving a modest quarterly allocation to support the work.lvcil has a twenty-five year history of providing housing search and retention services to persons with disabilities. Housing services are provided through local city and county community development block grant ("cdbg") program funds. Consumers in the cdbg programs typically live on extremely low income and need assistance to address imminent loss of housing and to understand their rights under the fair housing act. Staff members also provide landlord-tenant mediation and seek to develop landlord relationships to benefit consumers. Education is also provided to private landlords to encourage them to understand the benefits of renting to persons with disabilities. Community grants allow lvcil to provide additional housing services to area residents.lvcil is a leader in transition services for young adults with disabilities. One program is the s2l group which offers young adults in high school and early adulthood the opportunity to engage in social, leadership, volunteer and other community activities. The s2l group meets at least twice a month for a wide va

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 84.2%; rating input score 84
• Program expense ratio: 84.1%; rating input score 84
• Fundraising efficiency: $16.9 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 55; 55th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -0.1%; rating input score 32; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.19; rating input score 5; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 1.19; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.8%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1.9% per year; rating input score 100; 21st percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.5% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4% per year; rating input score 100; 29th percentile among comparable filings