Emergency Financial Assistance

SERVICES PROVIDED

Catholic Charities’ Emergency Financial Assistance program follows accepted case management principles in meeting the needs of our clients:

• We put together a comprehensive social and financial assessment of our clients’ living situations by means of a face-to-face interview.
• When agency guidelines have been met, we address client needs through the provision of grants for basic living expenses.
• We advocate for our clients with utility companies, landlords, and other individuals, businesses, and agencies.
• We provide budget counseling that seeks to enhance our clients’ financial stability and independence.
• We offer information and referral services when appropriate to local, state, and federal agencies.

Our income and eligibility guidelines are flexible, and we are often able to provide limited financial assistance to clients who might otherwise have received minimal or possibly no interventions from other agencies.   We are staffed by committed and caring professionals who offer clients respect, compassion, sensitivity, and a thorough knowledge of community resources in order to meet their needs.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES EMERGENCY FUEL/UTILITIES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FINAL GUIDELINES (Winter 2010-11)

• Catholic Charities will provide emergency fuel/utility assistance to residents of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, depending on availability of funding.  The definition of “emergency” is a circumstance that presents a serious, imminent threat to the health and safety of the household and the household has no other safe/viable heating options.  Catholic Charities will prioritize emergency fuel/utility assistance to the following groups:

Ø      Families with young children

Ø      Elderly

Ø      Families/Individuals on a “fixed” income (from governmental sources)

Ø      Individuals with physical or mental disabilities

• Based on level of need and availability of funding, eligible households may be able to receive fuel/utility financial assistance once during the 2010-11 winter season. 
• Applications for home fuel will not be accepted until November 1, 2010.  Exceptions may be granted for special circumstances.  
• Utility (water, gas, electricity, etc.) assistance will be available at any time.
• Approved fuel/utility payments are made directly to the vendor, not the client.
• Catholic Charities is NOT able to assist with security deposits on utilities, or payments toward outstanding utility bills from previous addresses.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Before an applicant calls Catholic Charities, they MUST:

1. Apply for emergency home fuel/oil delivery through the government’s LIHEAP program, until LIHEAP Grant and Crisis funding is exhausted.  All first time LIHEAP applicants should contact their local Department of Public Welfare – County Assistance Office for an application. 
2. Applicants seeking home fuel assistance should contact their fuel provider to discuss alternate payment/budget plans.
3. Applicants seeking utility assistance should contact their utility provider to request income-based assistance such as the First Energy PCAP program, Dollar Energy (Penelec and Dominion Peoples), LIPURP, “load-limiters”, etc.   

Catholic Charities Emergency Fuel/Utilities Intake Process:

1. Applicants MUST have a utility termination notice, have less than 50 gallons of home heating fuel remaining, or have a special circumstance (i.e., broken furnace, inability to pay for other heating deliverables such as coal, wood, etc.)
2. Applicants MUST schedule at appointment with one of our Case Managers to complete the Emergency Financial Assistance application process, including a financial assessment and budget.  (Exceptions will be made for homebound clients.) 
3. Applicants will be asked to contribute towards their home fuel delivery/utility assistance, based on ability to pay. 
4. Based upon extent of emergency and cost necessary to remedy the situation, the client may need to request financial aid from additional community agencies. 
5. Based on volume of requests for assistance, it may take between 24-48 hours for Case Managers to return telephone calls.  Please be patient. 
6. Centre County residents will receive their home heating fuel deliverables through the Centre County Fuel bank and utilize their intake process.

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