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 All Household Sizes 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. We currently only administer Winter Crisis. The Crisis Assistance component is designed to help households meet energy emergencies that cannot be met by other resources. The emergency may result from a weather related or supply shortage emergency such as: no source of heat; the only heating equipment in the home is inoperable or unsafe; or there is a potential no heat situation. Crisis Assistance will be provided when the conditions for providing assistance are met and the assistance will ensure heat for the household. Crisis Assistance intervention must resolve the energy crisis of eligible applicants within 48 hours, or 18 hours if in a life threatening situation. Assistance with the purchase of primary fuel and the payment of the primary utilitybills is provided to households who did not receive Heating Assistance or who have exhausted their heating benefit. 4.3 What constitutes a life-threatening crisis? A crisis situation is considered life-threatening if 1) the temperature is projected to be 32 degrees or less and 2) the household includes at least one vulnerable person (an individual who is under age six, age 60 or over, or disabled). Temperatures of 32 degrees or less for the currentand following day are established by verifying the projected temperature through a weather service (The Weather Channel etc). 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: The purchase of primary home heating fuel through Crisis Assistance requires that the household has exhausted all Heating Assistance benefits this program year; there is no viable source of heat in the home; the household is out of fuel (the tank is empty); or the households’ fuel supply is low as indicated: (1) oil/ kerosene 25 gallons or less (2) bottled gas 20% or less gauge reading (3) wood or coal 7 day supply or less. Note: for households that received a direct payment for their Heating Assistance benefit, verification that the benefit was used to purchase primary fuel is required prior to the approval of Crisis Assistance purchase of primary fuel. The payment of primary heat utility bill through Crisis Assistance requires that the account or electric service is in the name of the applicant or a member of the household or the service address is the same as the applicant’s address as verified by the utility company; the household has exhausted all Heating Assistance benefits this program year; and the household has no heat or will have no heat because the primary heat source of electricity or natural gas has been cut off within the past thirty days; will be disconnected within fifteen days; or has a prepaid meter balance of $25 or less. Note: for households that received a direct payment for their Heating Assistance benefit, verification that the benefit was used to pay their primary heat bill is required prior to approval of Crisis Assistance payment of primary utility. The repair of inoperable or unsafe heating equipment requires that the heating equipment to be repaired must be the primary heating system used by the household and the heating equipment must be inoperable or unsafe at the time of the request. Unsafe is defined as heating equipment that is dangerous or harmful to the health or safety of the household. The replacement or purchase of heating equipment requires that there is no primary heat source equipment in the home or a vendor has determined the equipment cannot be repaired. The replacement or purchase of heating equipment assistance is not provided to renters. Subsidized households (public housing) who are only responsible for periodic payment of individual excess utility usage charges (heating expenses are included in their rent/paid by the housing authority) are not eligible for Crisis Assistance. Subsidized households are those households living in a public housing community/property managed by a public housing authority (PHA) versus a property participating in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). Subsidized households (PHA property) whose total heating costs are included in their rent (paid by the PHA) are not eligible for Crisis Assistance. 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: Amount to resolve the Crisis not to exceed the maximum benefit amount for the service. 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. Crisis Assistance applications are accepted in person at Local Departments of Social Services (LDSS) in 120 cities and counties across the state. Additionally, applicants can submit applications via mail; fax; online through the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) customer portal CommonHelp; and by phone through the VDSS Enterprise Customer Service Center. 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 $4,200.00 maximum benefit Summer Crisis $0.00 maximum benefit Year-round Crisis $0.00 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 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): Payment of Security Deposits for Primary Heat Utility or Liquid Propane Gas Tank; Provision of Supplemental Heating Equipment/Maintenance; Payment for Emergency Shelter in no heat situations; Purchase of Portable Space Heater for Temporary Use; Purchase of Primary Home Heating Fuel; and Payment of Primary Heat Utility Bill. 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. 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.