4 CRISIS ASSISTANCE

Eligibility - 2604(c), 2605(c)(1)(A) 4.1 Designate the income eligibility threshold used for the crisis component Add Household size Eligibility Guideline Eligibility Threshold 1 1 State Median Income 60.00% 2 2 State Median Income 60.00% 3 3 State Median Income 60.00% 4 4 State Median Income 60.00% 5 5 State Median Income 60.00% 6 6 State Median Income 60.00% 7 7 State Median Income 60.00% 8 8 State Median Income 60.00% 9 9 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 10 10 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 11 11 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 12 12 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 13 13 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 14 14 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 15 15 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 4.2 Provide your LIHEAP program's definition for determining a crisis. If you administer multiple crisis assistance programs (winter, summer, and/or year-round), Include all program definitions. Emergency Assistance benefits are available from October through September. Emergency Assistance under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be provided to an eligible household in the following circumstances only when such circumstances present an imminent threat to the health and safety of the household. The household is responsible, at its own expense, for documenting that circumstances exist which present a serious, immediate threat to the household. The sub-grantee may, in its discretion, assist the household in identifying and documenting such circumstances, if the subgrantee has the expertise and resources to do so. CONDITIONS OF EMERGENCY: The household's primary supply of energy is interrupted because of weather conditions and other supply or a different type of energy is necessary. 1. Weather or other forces outside the control of the household damages the household's dwelling and causes the dwelling to suffer a severe loss of heat. 2. Hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions exist in the household's primary home space heating system, and safety modification are required. 3. Any other home energy-related condition caused by severe weather conditions, fuel shortages, and/or acts of God. 4. The household has a documented medical need for home energy related safety modifications. 5. LIHEAP funds can be used to relight a furnace pilot light if it is the primary heat source. Crisis cooling assistance is allowable during sustained high temperatures. Cooling assistance will be limited to the purchase of fans, operation or support of local cooling centers, coordination with local social service agencies, relocation to a hotel/hotel and air conditioners (where medically necessary). The policy regarding cooling crisis involves: an eligible household that is income qualified must have a household member that has and provides a letter from a qualified medical provider stating that a life-threatening condition exists where an air conditioner will eliminate or significantly reduce the possibility of loss of life or heat related illness. The letter does not have to include the diagnosis or condition; it only has to indicate there is a need for air conditioning and be signed by the qualified medical provider. Cooling centers may be activated when the temperatures are expected to reach 90 degrees for at least three (3) consecutive days. Transportation to the cooling center will not be provided. The sub-grantee must obtain departmental approval before providing crisis cooling assistance. 4.3 What constitutes a life-threatening crisis? Life-threatening: A life-threatening crisis exists when condition(s) are present that may cause death or severe permanent damage to the health of one or more household members. Such conditions include:• Household is without primary heat source of electric or natural gas service, or has less than 10% of a deliverable fuel (propane, wood, coal, fuel oil)o and has no secondary or alternate heat source,o and the outside temperature is below 32°F.• Household whose members' health and/or well-being would likely be endangered without the availability of their primary heat source or emergency cooling assistance which may include those who suffer more severe adverse effects from extreme temperature changes or exposure to extreme temperatures due to a medical condition.• Additional special circumstances are considered on case-by-case basis and determined by LIHEAP specialists at sub-contracting local agencies. Crisis Requirement, 2604(c) 4.4 Within how many hours do you provide an intervention that will resolve the energy crisis for eligible households? 48Hours 4.5 Within how many hours do you provide an intervention that will resolve the energy crisis for eligible households in life-threatening situations? 18Hours Crisis Eligibility, 2605(c)(1)(A) Winter Crisis Summer Crisis Year-Round Crisis 4.6 Do you have additional eligibility requirements for Crisis Assistance? 4.7 Check the appropriate boxes below to indicate type(s) of assistance provided 0 Do you require an Assets test? Do you give priority in eligibility to: Older Adults (60 years or older)? Individuals with a disability? Young Children? Households with high energy burdens? Other (Specify): In Order to receive crisis assistance: Must the household have received a shut-off notice or have a near empty tank? Must the household have been shut off or have an empty tank? Must the household have exhausted their regular heating benefit? Must renters with heating costs included in their rent have received an eviction notice? Must heating/cooling be medically necessary? Must the household have non-working heating or cooling equipment? Other (Specify): Do you have additional/differing eligibility policies for: Renters? Renters living in subsidized housing? Renters with utilities included in the rent? Explanations of policies for each "yes" checked above: Assets Test: The following are the maximum non-business resources allowed: $14,358 for a single person $21,966 for a two-person household Add $1,465 for each additional member up to $29,290 maximum per household. Resources include, but are not limited to the following: cash on hand; 1. certificates of deposit; 2. checking/savings accounts; 3. market value of stocks, bonds, and/or other negotiable resources; 4. equity value of real property which is not the primary residence; and 5. contract for deed (countable resource if can be sold). 6. Note: The household may also have business assets whose equity value does not exceed $25,000. Medically Necessary Explanation: Window air conditioners can be installed only when a household member has a documented medical need. The primary heat source may be switched if the household has a documented medical need. Renters: The landlord is responsible for replacing or repairing the furnace as per the Montana Landlord and Tenant Act. After providing and/or documenting that backup or temporary heat has been provided, the LIHEAP recipient (tenant/renter) needs to give the landlord written notice informing the landlord of the furnace problem and give the landlord "reasonable" time to fix the problem. Emergency situations, according to section 70-24-406, Montana Code Annotated must be addressed by the landlord within 3 working days. Montana Legal Services has developed a form the LIHEAP recipient can used to notify the landlord of the emergency. Montana Legal Services has also developed a Landlord Tenant Law Information sheet. The LIHEAP recipient should send the Information Sheet to the landlord along with the letter notifying the landlord of the emergency. In addition, the agency should encourage the LIHEAP recipient to contact Montana Legal Services at 1-800-666-6899 for assistance. The Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Act of 1977 (Montana Codes Annotated (MCA) 70-2425 states at 70-24-303 (1)'A landlord: shall maintain in good and safe working order and condition all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord; shall supply running water and reasonable amounts of hot water at all times and reasonable heat between October 1 and May 1, except if the building that includes the dwelling unit is not required by law to be equipped for that purpose of the dwelling unit is so constructed that heat or hot water is generated by an installation within the exclusive control of the tenant;'. Unless a landlord can demonstrate that they are low-income or have some mitigating circumstances, the responsibility for the maintenance, repair or replacement of the home heating system in the rental unit is the responsibility of the landlord. Mitigating circumstances may include, but are not limited to: The landlord is absentee and the agency cannot contact the landlord and the maintenance, repair or replacement of the appliance is necessary to alleviate the health and safety related issue. The landlord refuses to maintain, repair or replace the appliance and the occupants of the dwelling have a health and safety issue with the appliance. The landlord cannot maintain, repair or replace the appliance in a timely manner to alleviate the health and safety issue. All mitigating circumstances regarding the landlord not maintaining, repairing or replacing an appliance in a health and safety related circumstance must be documented in the participant's case file. IHSB would strongly encourage agencies to pursue written documentation of mitigating circumstances from landlords whenever practical, but detailed case notes will suffice if written documentation cannot be obtained. The agency may contact the Department for guidance in determining a mitigating circumstance. Determination of Benefits 4.8 How do you handle crisis situations? Separate component Benefit Fast Track, no separate amount of crisis funds is issued. Rather benefits are issued to crisis customers within crisis response time frames. Other - Describe: 4.9 If you have a separate component, how do you determine crisis assistance benefits? Amount to resolve the crisis. $0 Other - Describe: Payment may be made for actual cost to alleviate an emergency or life threatening emergency. Crisis Requirements, 2604(c) 4.10 Do you accept applications for energy crisis assistance at sites that are geographically accessible to all households in the area to be served? Yes No Explain. Applications for energy crisis assistance are accessible to all eligible households in the area to be served. 4.11 Do you provide individuals who are individuals with a disability the means to: Submit applications for crisis benefits without leaving their homes? Yes No If No, explain. Travel to the sites at which applications for crisis assistance are accepted? Yes No If No, explain. If you answered "No" to both options in question 4.11, please explain alternative means of intake to those who are homebound or physically disabled? Benefit Levels, 2605(c)(1)(B) 4.12 Indicate the maximum benefit for each type of crisis assistance offered. Winter Crisis $0.00 maximum benefit Summer Crisis $0.00 maximum benefit Year-round Crisis $9,999.00 maximum benefit 4.13 Do you provide in-kind (e.g. blankets, space heaters, fans) and/or other forms of benefits? Yes No If yes, Describe Crisis assistance is provided year-round. Payment may be made for actual cost to alleviate an emergency or life threatening emergency. Emergency benefits can be used to alleviate energy-related emergencies. Emergency benefits can be used to purchase blankets, space heaters or other goods or services necessary to relieve energy related emergencies. Crisis cooling assistance is allowable during sustained high temperatures. Cooling assistance will be limited to the purchase of fans, operation or support of local cooling centers, coordination with local social service agencies, relocation to a hotel/motel and air conditioners (where medically necessary). 4.14 Do you provide for equipment repair or replacement using crisis funds? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 4.14, you must complete question 4.15. 4.15 Check appropriate boxes below to indicate type(s) of assistance provided. Winter Crisis Summer Crisis Year-round Crisis Heating system repair Heating system replacement Cooling system repair Cooling system replacement Wood stove purchase Pellet stove purchase Solar panel(s) Utility poles / gas line hook-ups Other (Specify): 4.16 Do any of the utility vendors you work with enforce a moratorium on shut offs? Yes No If you responded "Yes" to question 4.16, you must respond to question 4.17. 4.17 Describe the terms of the moratorium and any special dispensation received by LIHEAP clients during or after the moratorium period. Under certain circumstances, regulated utilities are allowed to proceed with non-pay disconnects during the winter moratorium period, which runs from November 1 to April 1. NorthWestern Energy, Montana-Dakota Utilities, Energy West, and other regulated utilities must obtain approval from the Public Service Commission (PSC) before proceeding with non-pay disconnects on delinquent accounts during the winter moratorium period. The PSC will not approve a request for disconnect if the account holder has income at or below the federal poverty guidelines, if the account holder is a recipient of a public assistance program, if a member of the customer's household is 62 years old or older, or if a member of the household is handicapped. It is the customer's responsibility to let the utility company know, prior to disconnect, if any of the above conditions exist in the home and they will likely be asked to provide documentation to the utility. Companies not regulated by the PSC, such as cooperatives and propane distributors, are not required to obtain PSC approval prior to disconnecting utility service and have their own procedures to follow for winter terminations. Customers are advised to contact their utility company to discuss their account. If the customer is not satisfied or has unanswered questions after talking to a regulated utility company they may contact the Public Service Commission at 1-800-646-6150 4.18 If you experience a natural disaster, do you intend to utilize LIHEAP crisis funds to address disaster related crisis situations? Yes No If yes, describe If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.