Programs from Community Action Commission of Fayette County.
A wide variety of services and assistance programs are available from Community Action Commission of Fayette. The non-profit agency will help with housing, including shelter or emergency rent assistance. There are state and federal programs available for low income families, including HEAP as well as the Ohio Benefit Bank. Much more is offered too.
The case managers from the Community Action Agency will also partner with clients to help them deal with the crisis or escape poverty. There may be job training or education services available along with other self-sufficiency resources, such as credit counseling.
Financial resources and government benefits from Community Action Commission
Rent, security deposit or other grants may be offered from the HCRP, Homeless Crisis Response Program. This provides financially disadvantaged Fayette County residents and those facing eviction with innovative programming. It was created in order to address the growing issue of homelessness, and with the goal of preventing its occurrence.
This is accomplished from Community Action Commission of Fayette County by promoting housing stability through supportive and educational services. In addition to working to prevent homelessness (such as foreclosure or evictions), HCRP helps those who are already on the streets, and this is done through its rapid re-housing program.
The bottom line is the state and HCRP wants to mitigate the costs of people living on the streets, whether they are actual financial expenses or figurative human costs. It works by keeping people stable and preventing it from happening in the first place.
The Brick House Shelter offers lodging and support services to families or individuals who have lost their homes or apartments. The cause may be financial, emotional, or violent disruptions, and that is not a factor. Case managers will work with them to furnish links to any resources necessary to become self-sufficient members of society. Some of the services Brick House provides include Budgeting, Self-Sufficiency Planning, Job Search Assistance, Transportation and more.
The community action agency (CAC) operates a transitional program that provides low-income and formerly homeless Fayette County Ohio residents with access to rent subsidies. Program services include short term housing assistance, self-sufficiency planning, and free transportation. Benefits provided to those that qualify are based on funding availability and family needs. This program is provided through grants that are issued from the US Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care process and also the Ohio Development Services.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is also funded through the federal government. It is administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency’s Office of Community Assistance. The program was created for paying heating, gas, and utility bills.
HEAP assists eligible low-income households with managing the high costs of home heating costs. Once found eligible for program services, the participants one-time benefit amount is determined according to federal government funding levels, total household income, number of people in the household, and also the homeowner’s primary home-heating fuel source. Any benefits are usually distributed from HEAP in the form of a credit applied to your energy bill by your utility company or fuel provider.
Community Action Commission of Fayette County, using grants from HEAP, also will sometimes offer a Summer Cooling Assistance Program. This is targeted to low-income or working poor households with elderly members or residents with qualifying medical conditions. This service is solely for electric utilities.
Its counterpart, the Winter Crisis Program, which was formerly called Emergency HEAP (E-HEAP), is administered by CACFC as well as other non-profit community action agencies throughout Ohio. For those that qualify, it provides once-per-heating-season assistance to eligible households that have had their utility service disconnected.
There may also be crisis aid for people that are threatened with disconnection or have less than a ten-day supply of bulk fuel. Additionally, Winter Crisis helps in the process of acquiring new electric or heating service, so there may be help for a deposit or reconnection fee.
The state of Ohio PIPP Plus Program allows for an affordable monthly energy bill payment plan for eligible income qualified clients in Fayette County. When the monthly utility bill is paid in full by the due date, a portion of the customer’s old debt or arrears is credited off their account. PIPP Plus also accepts applications on a year-round basis.
Weatherization provides eligible homeowners and renters with free energy efficient, cost-saving home alterations. This service is limited to households with limited incomes who have not used the program in the past, and is also a one-time-only service.
The conservation measures done to a home can include Furnace Safety Inspection, Attic Insulation, Water Heater Insulation, Air Leak Sealing, Home Repairs for Elderly Residents, Sidewall Insulation, and even Floor Insulation.
CAC of Fayette County has established the Ohio Benefit Bank. This service connects individuals and families to needed support services. Clients can apply for some or all of the following public benefits.
- Food and Nutrition Programs, including Women Infants and Children (WIC), SNAP food stamps or the USDA Child Nutrition Program.
- Healthcare, including for Low Income or Uninsured Families and Children. Clients can look into Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled; Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH); Extra Help for Medicare Part D; and Ohio’s Best Rx, among other medical assistance.
- Federal and State of Ohio Tax Return Resources including Earned Income Tax Credit and also a free application for Federal Student Aid.
- Utility bill help from Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
- Other services are Ohio Works First Cash Assistance (OWF); Emergency Loans for Housing Needs; Child Care Assistance; Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP); and more.
Disability benefits can be applied for. This includes SSI and SSDI, medical care.
Fayette County Community Action Commission programs for children and seniors
The Federally funded Fayette County Head Start Program provides free preschool services for income-eligible three to five-year-olds. Its goal is to fully prepare children to start school. Community Action Commission of Fayette County, working with local teachers, will arrange for onsite developmental, speech, vision, and hearing screening. This, and more, are also part of the Head Start programming.
Transportation is available as needed in Fayette County. For students, a free breakfast, lunch, and a snack are served, as well. Head Start serves all income-eligible households, encourages diversity with races and religions, and welcomes children with disabilities.
Early Head Start is another option. This was set up as a federally funded program that provides services for qualifying families with toddlers, infants and pregnant women. It is for younger children. The state knows that healthy beginnings and continuity of responsive and caring relationships are vital for optimal child development.
National Family Caregiver Program offers one-time financial assistance or counseling. This is for Respite Care and is available to Fayette County residents who are acting as caregivers for family members. NFCP offers additional services, including help with purchasing medication, funds for paying utility bills, food, medical equipment, mortgage and loans for rent payments and much more. Services are provided based on each applicant’s needs.
Location of Community Action Commission of Fayette County is 1400 US Rte. 22 NW, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160, dial 740-335-7282.
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