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GA Energy Assistance - Home Heating and Weatherization

The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) helps eligible households deal with residential energy needs. The EAP has three components:

·   Regular EAP: Uses federal "Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)" funds to help eligible households defray the cost of home heating fuels. At the local level, EAP funds are administered primarily by Community Action Agencies (CAAs). (See http://www.gcaaonline.org/ for information about Georgia's CAAs)

·   Emergency EAP: Provides immediate financial assistance to households in a residential energy emergency and/or to prevent out-of-home placement of a child or an adult due to a home energy crisis. At the local level these funds are administered by a county DFCS office and contracts with Community Action Agencies (CAAs). (DFCS is the Division of Family and Community Services.)

·   Weatherization Program: Provides low-cost home energy conservation improvements to eligible households. Improvements may include: installing ceiling insulation, caulking, weather-stripping, etc. Some LIHEAP funds are transferred to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authorities (GEFA) for use in the program. In many counties, Community Action Agencies are contracted through GEFA to administer the program locally. (See http://www.gefa.org/weather/weather2.html for information about where to apply.)

The programs are available to families who have gross incomes at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Regular EAP financial assistance is primarily in the form of locally issued checks to home energy suppliers on behalf of eligible households. The amount of assistance to both homeowners and non-subsidized renters who receive a bill for their fuel cost depends on the projected total gross annual household income, household size and payment schedule or increased cost of home heating energy. Subsidized housing tenants whose fuel cost is included in their rental payment are ineligible to receive assistance. These households are considered to be the least vulnerable for home energy assistance.

Emergency EAP financial assistance is provided to eligible households within 48 hours after an eligible household applies and within 18 hours in a life-threatening situation. The applications for assistance are taken at accessible locations statewide, and in the homes of those who are homebound and unable to travel to any of the sites. The opening of the Energy Crisis Intervention is determined by severe and unusual weather-related conditions. The crisis is declared by the Governor, or his/her appointee, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Georgia Benefit Information System (GABIS) Overview

Source

The information for this topic was drawn from the web pages of the Department of Human Resources Division of Family and Children Services at:
http://dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-DFCS/menuitem.5d32235bb09bde9a50c8798dd03036a0/?vgnextoid=154a2b48d9a4ff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD.

Supplemental information was obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services LIHEAP Clearinghouse website at:
http://www.liheap.ncat.org/sp.htm

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