Lane County assistance programs

Get help with bills, and resources and organizations that provide assistance.

There are several different places that families can turn to for aid in Eugene and Lane County. There are organizations and resources that provide help with rent, energy bills, weatherization and energy conservation programs, and other everyday expenses.

Energy bill Credits From Eugene Water & Electric Board

The utility company created an assistance program that provides the unemployed with credits on their utility bills. There are still funds available to distribute to unemployed customers who struggling to pay their utility bills in this difficult economy, even if they’ve already received help from EWEB earlier this year. Eugene Water and Electric Board works closely with local organizations, including the Lane County Human Services Commission, which contracts with St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County, the Campbell Senior Center, and the Catholic Community Services to get people signed up for the assistance program.

The amount of assistance being provided has increased this year. As part of the company’s customer care program, EWEB has greatly increased the amount of the credit it gives unemployed customers to $300 from $200. The energy bill credit from EWEB’s will apply to any unemployed customer, regardless of their current or past income. However customers need to have proof of receiving state unemployment benefits within 14 days of the date of their application for the assistance.

To learn more or apply, contact St. Vincent de Paul, call the utility help line 461-8794 or stop by the Lane County Human Services Commission social service office at 456 Highway 99 North.

 

 

 

Other Land County Resources and Programs

The Lane County Human Services Commission has several other options for local families and administers numerous other programs. They include those listed below. Contact them at (541) 682-3798 to apply or learn more. They offer the programs listed below.

Medical Clinic

• Will provide free and / or sliding-scale primary health care care and services for uninsured as well as low to moderate income households in Lane County. Services offered by the clinic, which is run by the Human Services Commission (541) 682-3798 will include exams, basic lab work, medications, and free prescription drugs. Find additional free health care programs.

Dental Clinic

• Provide free or reduced cost ongoing and preventative dentistry to low-income adults and children. The populations targeted by the dental clinic program includes those people who are unemployed, disabled, uninsured, and or homeless. Human Services Commission - Phone number above

Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

• The program provides grants and other forms of financial assistance to low-income households for paying utility and heating bills. The program is seasonal and winter services are available as early as funding allows, which is typically in November of each year. There are some people it focuses on, including households with lower income residents, a person age 60 or over and households with a permanently disabled member are priority groups. Grants and funds from this federally funded program are dispersed on a first-come, first-served basis, so apply early. Home bound applicants can be assisted with completing their applications at home. Services for LIHEAP available in Oakridge, Florence, Eugene, Cottage Grove and Springfield Oregon.

Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing

• The purpose is to prevent evictions. Financial assistance, cash grants, counseling, and stabilization services are offered to help prevent individuals and families from being evicted, becoming homeless or to help those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly rehoused and stabilized in new short term and long term housing. Find more rent assistance.

Weatherization Services

• In addition to services listed above, The Lane County Human Services Commission works closely with organizations including the Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County (HACSA) to provide energy conserving as well as home weatherization services throughout Lane County. The Weatherization program will assess homes for weatherization needs and it will install, for free, insulation and windows, seals heating ducts, caulking, furnace repairs and tune ups.

Food Aid From Hunger Relief/Food Bank

• Many families are facing hunger, and the food aid will solicit, collect, warehouse, prepare, transport, record, manage, purchase, and allocate food to support the needs of Eugene and Lane County Residents

City of Eugene Homeless Prevention Project

• Also offered by the Human Services Commission, this will prevent evictions and homelessness by providing direct client assistance through a consortium of providers and referrals to government programs and local agencies.

 

 

Community Sharing Program - The agency provides a wide range of basic-need and emergency financial assistance to low to moderate income residents of South Lane County Oregon. Cottage Grove. Phone (541) 942-2176

Parent Partnership - Programs offered include limited energy, heating, and utility bill help as well as rental assistance and food box program. In addition, Transitional Housing Program and referrals are provided as needed. Call (541) 942-2104

Catholic Charities of Eugene - The agency offers assistance to meet basic needs of the low to moderate income, and services offered include groceries, food assistance, rent help, funds for paying utilities and heating bills, prescriptions, hygiene, LTD day passes, and clothing. (541) 345-3642

Centro Latino Americano - Assistance programs and information for the local Hispanic Community. Advocacy, health care, referrals to shelter, medical assistance, and counseling programs. CARS-Crisis Assistance Referral Service. Jobs-Assist in connecting client with employer for day labor. Los Ninos-Assists families with children 0-17 years old. Rental, heating and energy bill assistance, as well as an emergency food box program. Call (541) 687-2667

ShelterCare -They run the Homelessness Prevention Program, which can help families with children who are at risk of eviction or homelessness to remain in stable housing or their apartment. The housing assistance program provides minimal financial assistance and cash grants for paying rent or utility bills, coupled with a a year of appropriate one-on-one assistance, counseling and job training to help keep these families in their homes. Eugene Oregon. (541) 689-7156

Lane County Senior and Disabled Services - Offers a variety of services to seniors and family caregivers throughout Lane County, including help with paying energy bills, food, information on health care, and more. (541) 998-5367

St. Vincent Depaul - Provides appliances, furniture, groceries, emergency food boxes, clothing, housing aid, household goods, rent, utility and energy bill assistance, prescription medication vouchers, transportation, and loan of medical equipment. Find additional prescription programs, or call the agency at (541) 689-6747.

St. Benedict Lodge Catholic Church of Mckenzie Bridge Oregon (phone (541) 822-3249) can give people groceries and food boxes, limited rental and electric bill assistance, Caring Tree at Christmas, shoe vouchers and holiday gifts, family visits, emergency gas, trips to town, furniture and appliances. All aid is limited.

Short term and emergency funds to pay rent or security deposits are also available for income qualified residents. Find a comprehensive listing of non-profit agencies that administer rent assistance in Lane County.

Foreclosure prevention and counseling in Lane County Oregon

NEDCO Homeownership Center - Non-profit that provides mortgage delinquency, default and foreclosure counseling. HUD approved non-profit center. Also, learn about debt reduction programs. Dial (541) 345-7106. More on government mortgage programs.

Free food pantries, groceries and distribution centers

Call any of the following for food assistance. Triangle Food Box ((541) 927-3404), Community Sharing Program (dial (541) 942-2176), Deadwood Community Services ((541) 964-5031), as well as St. Matthews Episcopal Church ((541) 689-4010). If these centers can’t help you, find more Lane County food banks.

Community Clinics

The White Bird - Clinic offers both dental and health care assistance on a sliding fee scale. Provides both dental and medical care focused on those with little or no income and no insurance. Eugene Oregon. Call (541) 484-4800

Volunteers in Medicine Clinic - The center is a volunteer medical clinic dedicated to providing primary medical health care, labs and testing, medications, mental health, information and referrals to low income and uninsured adults in Lane County. Primary medical care will be provided for all individuals who meet eligibility guidelines. Services include: doctors appointments, minor trauma, information on drug assistance programs, such as that from Walmart and Humana, prevention and health maintenance, health education, mental health services, prescription assistance, specialty and diagnostic referral, diabetic management and education program and other provider-dependent procedures. Call (541) 686-3797

Other community clinics to call for low cost or free medical care include Mckenzie River Clinic ((541) 822-3341) as well as Lakeside Clinic ((541) 937-2134).