Polk County assistance programs.

Below you will find information on how to get financial assistance and help for bills, rent, and other expenses from various local Des Moines and Polk County assistance programs, charity organizations, and non-profit organizations.

Heating bill assistance program.

Thousands of Polk County residents participate in a federally funded low-income home energy assistance program. The heating bill assistance program is available to all Polk County families and individuals, except those who live in the city of Des Moines.

The program is managed by the Ankeny office of Red Rock Area Community Action Program Inc., (phone number (515) 961-6271) and the organization pays for a portion of home heating costs for participants who fall within set income guidelines and the programs criteria.

There is a tremendous need for assistance in today’s challenging economy. Participation in this federally funded heating program skyrocketed last year, and the number of applicants and participants will greatly increase again this winter, according to the Red Rock Community Action Program coordinator.

Last year, officials approved almost 2,000 applications for heating bill assistance between October 2008 and September 2009 - which was an increase of 500 from the prior year.

A five-county area in central Iowa is served by Red Rock officials. Agency-wide energy program participation increased almost 20 percent from 2007-08 and another 15 to 20 percent to 2007-09, according to officials.

 

 

 

Assistance comes in the form of a one-time payment. The amount of the payment will be determined by factors such as gross income, type of home, and family size.

One of the primary goals is to ensure service is not disconnected. The energy bill assistance program will protect participants from having their heating service disconnected by government-regulated utilities, such as Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy during the cold winter months.

The heating bill assistance program was created to give a boost to people who are elderly, low income, disabled or those who have temporarily fallen into tough times. It is not a welfare program for the perpetually unemployed but is meant to provide short term relief.

The amount of aid provided can be substantial. Already this year, a large family who owns a home received almost $800 in assistance, while an elderly woman who just rents an apartment, and does not own it received $400. Even renters can qualify for help with heating bills.

Contact the Red Rock Area Community Action Program's for more information or to apply to the low-income home energy heating assistance program. Call 965-0433 for an appointment or visit the office, which is located at 406 S.W. School St., Suite 305, Ankeny.

Additional utility bill programs

In addition to the heating program above, the Red Rock Area Community Action Program offers several other energy assistance programs and partnerships with local agencies. They include:

• Emergency Crisis Intervention - This program provides assistance for the repair, replacement, or tune up of heating units and furnaces. Funds are offered to repair or purchases heaters, blankets, fans and air conditioners for a qualified homeowner. Read more on the repairs.
• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance - The government funded program provides cash that is used to help pay winter heating bills as well as summer air conditioning bills.
• Partnerships with Iowa utility and gas companies - Utility company customer contributions help low-income customers pay their home utility bills
• Weatherization - Workers that work with the agency will perform free home energy audits and weatherize homes. The program is free, and it provides insulation, inefficient appliance replacement and furnace repair and replacement, and caulking.

 

 

Emergency rent assistance and homeless prevention

Two housing programs run by the community action agency include Homeless Prevention and Rent Help in the form of a one-time rent payment. The primary goal is to allow a struggling individual or family to remain in their home or apartment. In addition, the housing program provides assistance to someone with an eviction notice, and it can also provide cash grants to individuals with a utility disconnect notice through direct payments to a person’s landlord or vendor.

Financial assistance for paying bills

Catholic Charities (phone 515-282-1235) offers several resources. One of which is the St. Mary Family Center. The agency helps thousands of families per year. Some of the services they offer include:

• Financial Assistance - St. Mary’s and Catholic Charities offers limited financial assistance and cash grants for paying rent or utility bills to families in need of emergency help.
• Emergency food boxes and free food for families in need - The agency can provide an emergency food box which contains a week’s supply of nonperishable food items. The aid is not unlimited as a family may receive an emergency food box only once a month.
• Infant Formula and Diapers- Families may receive a week’s supply of diapers and/or baby formula. The support is available to anyone, regardless of whether they live in Des Moines or not.
• Free clothing - Access to the “closet program” is available to anyone in Polk County.

Another of the places to turn to is the Salvation Army. They provide family and material assistance, which means that qualified families can get help with the following expenses. Mortgage, rent and deposit assistance, clothing, free food and groceries, Utility and heating bill assistance, Prescription and medical assistance, and furniture. They also run an infant center which can provide diapers, formula, and other child care products. Phone number is (515) 282-3599.

Free Legal Aid

The County of Polk, Legal Aid Society ((515) 243-1193) provides free legal advice to qualified low income Iowa families. They offer Civil Legal Assistance, including support for domestic issues, divorce, eviction and landlord issues. One of the services they offer for free which is in high demand is the Foreclosure Defense Project. Learn more on Iowa foreclosure programs, including mediation.

Low income medical and dental care

If you need help with medical and dental bills, the Des Moines Health Center is a privately run, not for profit community health center that has as its mission the goal of providing low cost or free health and dental care to low income and uninsured patients in Des Moines and Polk County Iowa. It is also supported by the United Way. Call the clinic at (515) 244-9136 to learn more or make an appointment. Click here to find additional ways to get help with medical and hospital bills, as well as free health care.

Des Moines assistance

The programs mentioned above cover Polk County Iowa. There are a few specific programs for Des Moines as well. Click here to read more on these services and resources.