It will soon be moving day for DAPCO., the local nonprofit also known as Destiny and Purpose Community Outreach.

The Ypsilanti-based organization, which assists individuals in becoming stabilized, anchored members of society, is renovating a new permanent office location at 127 N. Washington St. and is planning an open house in January.

The mission of DAPCO is to strengthen family: equipping men, women and youth who are at risk of becoming non-achievers with the skills and resources to become productive citizens with new hope; living purposeful lives with moral and ethical values.

Earlier this year, DAPCO closed its Detroit office with the goal to concentrate its efforts in Washtenaw County.

"Our funding is area specific and in 2012, 80 percent of our budget will be dedicated to programming in Washtenaw County," said DAPCO's executive director Towana Parker.

DAPCO's 2012 budget will be determined in January. Parker says the 2011 budget is close to $200,000, with most of the money coming from corporations, private donors and foundations.

For the past 15 years, DAPCO has been located at 133 W. Michigan in the Michigan Heritage Building. The new location will mean new programs, including teaching reading literacy in elementary schools in the Ann Arbor Public School District and a support group for family members and friends of incarcerated individuals.

"We will also have a re-entry program working with 15-25-year-olds coming out of jail," said Parker. "We will give them employment training."

DAPCO began in 1997 as a women's entrepreneurial support program called Ladies of Destiny and Purpose, International. When the focus broadened in 1999, the name changed to DAPCO and it became a charitable, educational and mission minded community development organization.

Parker says that DAPCO recently gave a community baby shower that more than 35 people attended.

"We now have 22 families of attendees who were there who have needs for Christmas," she said.

For more information, call 877-832-1277, ext. 103.