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DEO LIHEAP Policies and Procedures Manual Page 5

.03 Principles A. LIHEAP encourages subrecipients to partner and collaborate with other community-based organizations to provide services that meet the needs of low- income households. B. Subrecipient shall agree to treat owners and renters equitably under the Agreement. C. Subrecipient shall not charge applicants a fee or accept donations from an applicant to provide LIHEAP benefits. D. All information provided by an applicant to a subrecipient is considered confidential and should be treated as such. The use or disclosure of confidential information regarding LIHEAP households is limited to purposes directly connected with program administration. Questions on the release of information should be referred to DEO. E. Right to Request Financial Assistance: All persons have the right to request financial assistance by following the procedures established by the state and local Subrecipient that provides the services for the area in which they live. F. Nondiscrimination - In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 12250, no individual in Florida shall be excluded from participation in programs, be denied benefits, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal funds because of Race, Color, National origin, Handicap, Religion, or Sex. G. In compliance with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, no individual shall be denied services, participation, or be subjected to discrimination in any of its programs or activities on the basis of age. .04 Changes in Policy or Procedures A. The LIHEAP Manual will take effect in the beginning of the Agreement period or Program Year. B. Revisions to the LIHEAP Manual after the effective date will be issued in the form of numbered Information Memoranda by DEO. The transmittal letter will contain instructions for updating the manual as well as a summary of the changes and the effective dates. C. As of the next effective date after any revisions to the LIHEAP Manual, the revisions will become permanent and be incorporated into the full manual. The DEO-issued Information Memoranda will be kept on file for tracking purposes. D. Each subrecipient will be responsible for ensuring LIHEAP Policy Manuals are issued to individual staff members and are maintained and updated.