Bell County assistance programs.

Resources and organizations that provide grants and help with expenses and bills

One local organization, the Hill Country Community Action, is a place that low to moderate income families can turn to in order to get help with bills, apply for grants, mortgage counseling, rent and housing assistance, and more. Another agency to contact is the Bell County Human Services H.E.L.P. Center, which provides grants for paying utility bills. Read more about both organizations below.

Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) - This was designed to assist income eligible households who may be in danger of having their utility service turned off or if they are experiencing other energy-related crises or emergencies. The CEAP program consists of four main components:

• Co-pay: This component provides counseling and assistance to low and middle income households through counseling, case management, referrals and other assistance with utility bills. Clients to this program are assisted over a period of nine months. There are some conditions in order to remain part of the program, including the clients need to actively participate by setting goals in the program, they need to attend sessions on budget counseling and energy conservation, and they also need to continue to pay a portion of their utility bill each and every month.
   
• Emergency/Energy Crisis: This component provides assistance and cash grants that are used for paying utility bills during weather-related and supply shortage emergencies and if someone runs out of fuel.
   
• Repair/Replacement/Retrofit: This part of the program will assist clients in lowering their expenses by reducing their energy burden and usage, and it will help them achieve energy self-sufficiency by addressing inefficient cooling and heating appliances, refrigerators, and water heaters.
   
• Aid for Elderly/Disabled: This will provide utility bill assistance to those households who are most vulnerable to increases and other fluctuations in energy costs and expenses. The CEAP will pay up to four utility payments each year on behalf of the elderly/disabled for the highest consumption months as determined by their 12 month billing history and priority rating score and based upon how much other aid they need.

ATMOS Share The Warmth - This will assist clients with paying their ATMOS gas and heating bills during the cold Texas months.

TXU-Energy Aid - Helps clients in Copperas Cove and Cameron with paying their TXU electric bills.

 

 

 

Texas Weatherization Program - Hill Country Community Action provides energy conservation tips, improvements, and measures that will help eligible families reduce fuel consumption and their energy bills for heating and cooling costs. Weatherization uses the EASY Audit to determine what measures need to be done to the home to help them reduce consumption, including extra insulation, weather stripping, new windows and doors, replacing inefficient cooling and heating appliances.

Child Care Assistance - Another resources offered by Hill Country Community Action is child care aid. The community action agency has a contract with the Central Texas Workforce Board to reimburse Child Care Providers for child care given to children enrolled in the Child Care Services program.

Community Outreach and Assistance Program - This program offers several options and services to clients. They can receive assistance in applying for:

• Mortgage counseling
• Children’s health care insurance (CHIP & Children’s Medicaid)
• Food Stamps
• Medicaid (Including the Women’s Health Program)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Help with credit card debt
• Long-term care (financial assistance and other grants)

The Hill Country Community Action main office is located at 2905 W. Wallace PO Box 846, San Saba, TX, 76877. Or call them at 325-372-5167 ext 235.

 

Utility Bill Help from Bell County / Killeen H.E.L.P. Center - This is a department of Bell County Texas that offers help and cash grants that can be used for emergency assistance. They can also act as a facilitator between utility companies and families who need help, they can teach energy-saving classes, and they can provide grants that will help families with paying their energy and cooling bills one time or for up to three months.

Last year the H.E.L.P. center assisted over 3,100 households in Bell County with emergency financial aid and cash grants. Of those who received aid, about 1,050 lived in Killeen. Besides the H.E.L.P. Center, there are other places to turn to for help. Some churches, non-profits, and other charitable organizations in Bell County such as the Salvation Army also help people who can't afford their utilities, and these organization can often provide other assistance as well, such as medical bill assistance.

In addition, the H.E.L.P. Center partners with other local organizations and they provide other resources and additional aid such as job search or job training assistance, and skills training.

Stop by the Killeen H.E.L.P. Center is at 201 E. Avenue D or call them at 254.519.3360 to learn more or apply for assistance.

 

 

Agencies that provide financial assistance, information, or other aid

Some of the local non-profit organizations, charities, and other agencies that provide free food, clothing, house hold items and financial assistance for bills to people in Belton and Bell County include Helping Hands Ministry (254-939-7355), St. Vincent De Paul (254-773-7591) and Temple HELP Center (phone 254-770-6842)

Christian Assistance Network - This non-profit charity organization provides limited financial assistance with paying utilities and also offers referral services to those in need of help. Killeen Texas. (254)634-0178

If you need help with paying your rent, access to low income housing, or information on government programs such as section 8 housing vouchers, then individuals have a number of options available to them. Non-profit agencies provide rental assistance. Read more Bell County Texas rent assistance programs.

Get access to free medical care

Stop by or contact Temple Community Free Clinic. The facility helps the low income, working poor and those patients with overwhelming bills and debts. Those who qualify for aid can receive free health or medical care. The health care clinic not only offers free medical care to qualified patients but also provides health education and research to those in need. Dial (254) 771-3374.

Bell County Indigent Health Services - This community clinic may be able to offer provides medically necessary heath and medical care, government benefits, counseling and more to individuals and families who meet the income, resource, residency, and household criteria. Call (254)618-4165

Greater Killeen Free Clinic may be able to help the low income and uninsured. Among other programs the clinic may be able to provides services that include include diagnostic testing and medications, exams,  mammogram screening, social services assessment, and assistance in obtaining prescription and medications for chronic illness through a pharmaceutical assistance program. More on drug assistance programs. Call (254)519-3898

Other community clinics in Bell County Texas that may offer free or low cost medical care include King's Daughters Clinics - Main Clinic (phone (254)298-2400), Sparta Road Pediatric Clinic (phone (877)800-5722, and note this clinic focuses its care of children), and also Scott and White community clinic ((254)628-2789).

Find more free health and dental centers, as well as community clinics in Bell County. A number of facilities help the low income, poor, and patients with no insurance. Find more community clinics in Bell County Texas.