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Community and Internet Resources


Housing: General Financial Assistance


National

New Sign Community Action Partnership supports the work of Community Action Agencies (CAA) throughout the United States. CAAs offer a range of assistance to low-income families, including homeownership and rental assistance and home energy and weatherization assistance. To locate a CAA that serves your area, call the Partnership at (202) 265-7546.

Lifeline Across America is a national working group that provides information and resources regarding the Lifeline and Link-Up programs, which provide discounts to low-income consumers for telephone installation and monthly bills. Lifeline provides monthly discounts of at least $10 per month. Link-Up pays up to $30.00 of home phone startup fees (even if it’s a cell phone). Link-Up also lets consumers borrow up to $200 of set-up fees, interest-free, for up to one year. To learn more, contact your state’s public utility commission. To locate your commission, visit National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners: State Commissions.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program to help eligible low-income households meet their home heating and/or cooling needs. While LIHEAP is a federal program, you must apply directly with your State, Indian tribe or tribal organization, as applications, eligibility, assistance, and benefit levels vary among LIHEAP programs. To learn how you can apply, contact the National Energy Assistance Referral Project by calling (866) 674-6327 or e-mailing energyassistance@ncat.org.

State Listings

Arizona

Arizona Public Service (APS) funds Project SHARE (Service to Help Arizonans with Relief on Energy), a program that helps those who need assistance with paying their energy bills (gas, electric, oil, wood). The Salvation Army manages the funds, selects recipients and disburses funds. Qualified individuals must: be over the age of 60, living on a fixed income and facing a financial emergency, be under the age of 60 and experiencing special hardships, or be disabled with no source of income. For more information, contact your local Salvation Army Office.

Home Energy Assistance Fund, a program of the Arizona Community Action Association assists low income and financially struggling households in Arizona pay for and reduce home energy (heating/cooling) costs. This assistance is provided to families that may have been turned down for LIHEAP assistance. For more information, call the Association at (602) 604-0640.

Florida

Florida Department of Community Affairs administers the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Participating agencies and organizations offer grants up to $2032 to make home repairs that can lower home heating and cooling expenses. Such repairs could include insulation, weather stripping, water heater wraps, furnaces and air conditioning repair, and others. Client households must have limited income. Preference is given to owner occupied, elderly, disabled, and families with children 12 and under. For more information contact the department at 1-877-352-3222.

Missouri

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Energy Center oversees the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program. This program makes energy-efficient improvements to eligible homes. These improvements can lower utility bills. To find out which organization offers this assistance in your area, visit the MO DNR website.

Missouri Housing Development Commission, via the HOME Repair Opportunity Program (Hero Program), provides funds to selected Community Action Agencies to meet the growing need for home repair for low- to moderate income homeowners. Eligible home owners may apply for assistance to rehabilitate their homes, including plumbing, electrical, roof, siding, interior or exterior paint, floor coverings. Assistance is also available for weatherization improvements that can lower home cooling and heating expenses. For more information, contact your local Community Action Agency. To locate your local agency, contact the Missouri Association for Community Action, Inc.

Nevada

Community Services Agency and Development Corporation, in partnership with Sierra Pacific Power Company, offers SAFE - the Special Assistance Fund for Energy Utility Assistance, designed to provide limited utility payment assistance to low-income families. For more information, call the SAFE Hotline at (775) 786-6023 ext. 330.

New Jersey

New Jersey SHARES (New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services) is a non-profit corporation organized to provide assistance to individuals and families living in New Jersey who are in need of temporary help in paying their energy bills. For more information, call (908) 979-3377 or e-mail info@njshares.org.

Red Cross Homeless Prevention Program of Greater Plainfield, New Jersey, provides one month of rental or mortgage assistance to individuals in danger of eviction and / or foreclosure. Individuals must first attend a budgeting class. They also provide a referral service for food, clothing, and utility assistance. For more information, e-mail plfd@crossnet.org.

Oregon

Neighbor Impact serving all of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties in Oregon, has a mission to break the cycle of poverty by helping remove the barriers that prevent people from achieving self-sufficiency. They offer rent assistance, utility and weaterization assistance and a meal program. For more information, call (541) 548-2380.

Washington DC

Lutheran Social Services offers an emergency assistance program to individuals and families in need throughout the metro area of Washington DC. The goal of the program is to prevent homelessness by addressing basic material needs of those who require temporary aid during times of financial crisis. Such aid can include rent, mortgage, and utility assistance, food and clothing as well as transportation assistance. They also offer long term case management services, providing assessments, counseling, information and referral, and follow-up. For more information, call (202) 723-3000 ext. 202 or e-mail masseyg@lssnca.org.

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