Summer temperatures near 100 degrees, with “real feel” numbers even higher than that, are hard on everyone – but they’re even harder on those who can’t pay the bills in order to cool down their homes.
This week, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners is accepting federal “crisis intervention” funds to be used to help.
The Crisis Intervention Program is a 100 percent federally funded service that’s meant to assist people and families who are experiencing “a heating or cooling related crisis.”
For the purposes of the program, a household is considered to be in “crisis” if its “currently experiencing or is in danger of experiencing a life threatening or health related emergency, and sufficient, timely and appropriate assistance is not available from any other source.”
Also, it could be a family at a residence with no cooling source – or, in winter months, heating source – that has a disconnect notice for the service and the health or well-being of a household member is threatened.
Guilford County Division of Social Services often helps families facing heat in a number of ways. In some cases, fans or air conditioners are provided, while in other cases, past due utility bills are paid so that service won’t be cut off.
Each household will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if there’s a temperature-based crisis in that home.
The latest allocation of funds for the Crisis Intervention Program is just over $71,000.
If you and your family are facing this type of threat, you can check your eligibility for the program. Here are the criteria:
- Have at least one US citizen or non-citizen who meets eligibility criteria
- Meet an income test
- Have an energy related “crisis”
- Have a utility statement that shows how much is owed to keep the service from being turned off or to be turned back on.
The Guilford County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve the acceptance of the funds – why wouldn’t they? – at the board’s Thursday, Aug. 3 meeting.
The funds will then go to the Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services Division of Social Services to be used for county residents who need help.
The department pays the service provider directly in cases where the help is warranted and approved.
Thank you Scott for illuminating another boondoggle for giving hard-earned money from tax-paying Americans to those who claim they are poor but will go and spend the tax payer’s money on drugs, big screen TV’s and Range Rovers.
As Chris Meadows inferred, we need more capitalism and less government hand-outs to those who don’t have. Everything should be pay to play, including health care, roads, parking, housing and schools. If you can’t pay for it, you can’t have it.
Do you think county and city govt can help out those who continually get squeezed by higher taxes, water rates etc? Seniors are struggling too.
Yes I think they can help! Seniors and disable seniors as myself don’t know where to go for help. My roof leaks it’s starting to rot under safit or boxing .they raised my taxes however I did find someone to help with that.
This is tax-payer funded.
Although we may not qualify. Utilities (necessities) consumer a larger and large income, most for fixed income from SS. Burdensome taxation both direct and indirect make each year more difficult.
So after getting our property tax bill, I called the City/County about tax relief. It’s been a while, but we have yet to receive a reply. Perhaps my accent disqualified us.
This money won’t be sent to the individual person, but to the utility, which is a kinda good thing about the program. At least the power company gets paid.
We, the taxpayers, are paying for the electricity of others. It’s not “free” federal money.
If the average financial need is around $300 this will only help about 236 individuals/families. That’s not many folks which is why churches, charitable organizations, and friends still need your donations.
People who need help must also understand that if you have a NEED TODAY you must go through an application process that is being managed by the Department of SOCIAL SERVICES and is likely to take quite a bit of time so MONEY WILL NOT BE SENT THIS WEEK to pay the bills. These programs have long waiting lists, a long processing procedure, and you need to be aware it will likely be at least 3+ months before anything happens. With the onset of Medicaid Expansion, I wouldn’t be surprised if it takes more time than that.
Wow, you all are heartless in these comments. People at risk of dying because of temperature related crisis and you all come up with accusing people you don’t know of having drug addiction and a typical “what about me” rhetoric.
Imagine you don’t have the means to provide livable temperatures where you sleep for yourself and your children. I’m curious if you would then be concerned with the amount of tax dollars (71,000) to help pay a utility bill as much as you would care that RE CARROLL MANAGEMENT COMPANY ($2,574,084.67) had tax funded loans forgiven. Yes, that’s the CARROLL that “owns” the Rhino.
Why are you so concerned with a small pot of money that literally allows people to live? Do you not take advantage of the many things your tax dollars do go to, such as driving on reasonably maintained roads, using a hospital or medical facility, using telecommunication infrastructure such as the internet (obviously you use the internet) and cellular devices, public and private education, or spiritual services that receive tax incentives?
All this sounds like envy to me. If you can support your family as you wish, whose fault is it? A small pot of money comes from the taxpayer.
You think I’m “envious” of Roy Carroll getting $2.5M+ of free money? What does that make you, lustful?
thank you. i did not know this. rebuttals ?
As usual, typos in my comments.
hand the $$ to them so they can buy more cold beer ?