Caddo Community Action Agency assistance programs.
The less fortunate in Caddo Parish can get help. A non-profit organization known as Caddo Community Action Agency focuses on assisting families with children, senior citizens, and the disabled in the region. While many social services are available, the focus is housing, rent, utility bills, and food needs. Clients will also generally enroll into job training and employment type programs too. Some of the general categories of assistance are noted below.
Grants for paying bills
Utility service payment assistance is any type of program that pays for a portion (or rarely all) of a bill for residents whose electricity is at risk of being shut off or has already been disconnected. This may include some small, petty cash type disbursements but the main resource available from Caddo Community Action Agency is the federal government funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
While allocations are set yearly for the state of Louisiana, it will usually provide qualified low income families with a credit on their monthly utility bill. Any type of energy bill service payment assistance programs may have income, age, disability requirements, need or other eligibility conditions. Funding is limited to a once per year disbursement.
An application is required from households. Be prepared to show proof of income for the thirty days prior to the date of the application, the number of people in your home, and more, such as a current utility bill must accompany the form. In some cases, in Caddo Parish Louisiana Certain SNAP (Food Stamp) households may be granted an LIHEAP energy bill assistance benefit automatically based on their food stamp case. All verifications must be provided to the community action agency office with your formal application. Continue with LIHEAP Louisiana assistance programs.
Much more limited is some form of emergency funds. Local Caddo Parish foundations and other non-profit organizations provide monetary support. The funds being paid out by the community action agency can be used by clients as a form of money in crisis situations.
Some of the Caddo Community Action Agency resources that are part of this may be the Community Food and Nutrition Homeless Assistance Program, Emergency Food and Shelter Program, aid from Salvation Army partner centers, and local donations. Funds may be used for rental assistance, food, clothing, transportation and more. The homeless may qualify for help with a security deposit. Struggling individuals requiring access to social services that the agency cannot provide are given referrals.
Housing payment assistance is offered as part of programs for those who are at risk of eviction without assistance. Caddo Community action may coordinate loans for and direct financial aid for these rent payments or security deposits. They will have income, disability, self-sufficiency or other eligibility requirements. In some cases other related costs, such as water bills, may be qualified for aid too.
Energy conservation and weatherization programs provide assistance in the form of supplies and labor to help people improve the overall energy efficiency of their primary home or apartment. It is all offered at no cost in the parish.
The federal government and state of Louisiana program provides updates such as double glazed windows, ceiling insulation, weather-stripping, minor housing envelope repairs, pipe wrap, low-flow showerheads, water heater blankets, duct wrap, caulking, and outlet gaskets. The goal is to make the homes of low income families, in particular older residents, more energy efficient and help people save money on their utilities.
Case management and family support from Community Action in Caddo
The Family Support Services are wide ranging. These may include a number of other Caddo County resources on behalf of disadvantaged residents during the holidays, provide alternative living arrangements, coordinate shelters, or other forms of care and support. There even are resources such as free vouchers to pay for motel or hotel rooms, and Caddo Community Action can assist with those applications.
Similar to that resource is the FSS, Family Self-Sufficiency Program. This is for participants from the region who want to achieve both short or long term economic independence. This may involve personalized case management and information on job searches. Case managers from the community action group are also assisting families to help them receive state of Louisiana, Caddo Parish and other government benefits. Staff from the non-profit work with participants to set goals that will be worked on in order become less dependent upon services.
Local transportation may be coordinated for doctor appointments or job interviews. Some assistance programs provide nonemergency transportation for parish residents who require routine medical services or who need a ride to a job interview, which can be part of self-sufficiency.
Education and employment assistance programs
The regional Head Start Program is federally funded. It is offered as a school readiness pre-school program for children from disadvantaged families that are under the age of 6. Special needs students from Caddo Parish can also participate in the Head Start program along with some over-income limit children. It is offered as a fully comprehensive pre-school program providing health care, mental health, dental needs, food, education and social services. Busing is provided in some of the center-based options.
Caddo Community Action Agency helps families increase their income, learn about money and budgeting, and helps with medical issues as well. There may be financial aid for those on FMLA as well as referrals to free job placement in Louisiana. The community action agency helps the unemployed and disabled get a job or gain new skills. They also help clients gain new skills.
Applying for Community Action Agency services
The goal of the Caddo Community Action Agency is to support the less fortunate. The main office phone number is (318) 861-4808, or stop by 4055 St. Vincent Avenue in Shreveport, Louisiana 71108
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