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 State Median Income 60.00% 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. Households must have existing/imminent lack of adequate heat in dwelling (emergency), or a risk of a heating emergency (prevention). While there is not a formal asset test, consideration may be given to resources available to the household before prevention assistance is provided. No household is eligible for crisis cooling assistance without a declaration by a local or state public health agency of a heat emergency and authorization is given by the Department of Administration. A household may receive more than one crisis assistance payment. Determination of eligibility for regular heating assistance benefits determines a household’s eligibility for Prevention Assistance for the remainder of the program period. 4.3 What constitutes a life-threatening crisis? To qualify for a potentially life-threatening crisis, the weather and other conditions must create a concern for the urgent safety concern of the household’s residents. Determination of a threat to urgent safety concern of an eligible household is based on four factors: expected low temperature, condition of the dwelling unit (habitable, operable furnace, etc.), presence of vulnerable persons (persons with medical need for heat -- elderly, handicapped, children under six, etc.), and alternatives available to the household (place for temporary relocation, etc.). The presence of vulnerable persons may affect the amount and type of benefit provided to the household. 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: Priority in eligibility to elderly, disabled, young children, and households with high energy burdens, please see sections: 9.2.3 and 4.4.16 (included in Section 2). Crisis Assistance needs a direct pay relationship with a participating energy vendor. 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: Section 5.2.1.2: Agencies shall work with customers to determine the amount needed to prevent and/or restore an energy loss. The maximum amount allowed for deliverable fuel requests is the minimum fill plus trip charge (when applicable). The maximum amount for natural gas and electric requests is the utility’s required amount to prevent a disconnection and/or restore services. The worker should document, in HE+ System Notes, the requirement for each crisis request. If an exception is needed to these maximum amounts, contact the HE+ Help Desk. The Department of Administration (Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program) has contracted with the Keep Wisconsin Warm Fuel Fund and/or Heat for Heroes. Once the fuel fund has raised match funds, LIHEAP matched funds are awarded. These funds are another resource made available to local sub-grantees for eligible low-income customers. Section 2.2.2.3: A homeless applicant who has proof of a permanent address they will be moving into may be eligible for an energy assistance benefit if the following conditions are met: Verification of a move to a permanent address. This should be verified by a lease agreement, phone call to the landlord, or information from a homeless shelter. • The applicant must have selected a vendor to provide service in their new residence unless energy service is included in the rent or paid to the landlord in a separate payment. • If the homeless applicant cannot secure a home energy account due to large arrearages on a previous account, or does not have the money for a deposit, prevention services may be used to assist them with securing energy services. • 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. The State of Wisconsin allows applications to be taken via the phone, in office, mail, alternative locations, and online. Outreach locations are both categorically and geographically diverse. 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 $1,200.00 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 WHEAP agencies’ in-kind provisions include blankets, space heaters, fans, and temporary lodging. 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): Temporary lodging. 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. The State of Wisconsin institutes a moratorium on disconnections for regulated utilities from November 1st to April 15th. 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 the Governor declares a state of emergency or in a county, we may use the 15% of the Weatherization LIHEAP transfer to replace weatherization energy conservation measures damaged due to fire, flooding, or an act nature as authorized under the Department of Energy Weatherization Plan. 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.