Energy Assistance Still Available

Community Services Consortium administers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally funded program which provides assistance to income eligible households once each heating season. The intent of LIHEAP is to help low-income households offset their winter heating costs. LIHEAP is not an entitlement program, and is dependent on available funds. 

To apply for the LIHEAP program in Linn, Benton and Lincoln County, contact Community Services Consortium (CSC) at the numbers below. To qualify, a household must have an income at or below the following limits:

To make an appointment contact CSC at:

LINN COUNTY 541-926-7163

250 Broadalbin St SW

(Two Rivers Market-Upstairs)

Albany OR 97321

BENTON COUNTY 541-752-2840

545 SW 2nd St (Upstairs)

Corvallis OR 97333

LINCOLN COUNTY 541-265-3293

120 NE Avery St (Upstairs)

Newport OR 97365

Appointments are necessary at each site, and take approximately a half an hour.

Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Season Opening Soon

Community Services Consortium (CSC) administers LIHEAP for Benton, Lincoln, and Linn Counties, and this year’s LIHEAP season is opening soon. LIHEAP provides funding to assist low-income households with heating bills during the winter months. Households with gross monthly incomes of less than 60% of the State Median Income are eligible to apply. State Median Income is $1792.16 for a single household and $3446.41 for a four-person household.

Appointments for seniors and individuals with disabilities will begin November 1, 2014, and appointments for the general public will begin December 1, 2014. To schedule an appointment, please call:

• Benton County: 541-752-2840
• Lincoln County: 541-265-3293
• Linn County: 541-926-7163

For years, Community Services Consortium has helped local low-income residents to keep the lights on and their families warm during the winter months as part of their mission to end poverty in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. Some consequences of unaffordable heating costs include:

• Hunger and malnutrition increases when people are forced to choose between heating and eating.
• Personal health suffers as people are not able to fill prescriptions, must skip or reduce their medications, or go without needed medical or dental care.
• Seniors, people with disabilities or medical conditions, and small children are put at risk of hypothermia.
• Health and safety is endangered by people using alternate heat or light sources such as kerosene heaters, candles, lanterns, fireplaces or charcoal briquettes.
• Evictions increase and more people become homeless. Many never regain their housing and children leave school.
• Loss of utility service contributes to children going into foster care, as living without utility service is considered neglect.
• People in subsidized housing risk losing their housing voucher if their power is shut off.

During the 2013-2014 LIHEAP season, CSC served 5,283 households in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties. The following is an overview of the households served last year.

Total energy payments: $1,598,021.69 (4.5% decrease over 12-13)
Total served: 5,283 Households (10% decrease over 12-13) including 13,106 individuals (7% decrease over 12-13)

• Benton County – 1,006 unduplicated households served
• Lincoln County – 1,129 unduplicated households served
• Linn County – 3,148 unduplicated households served

Of the 5,283 households served:

• 1,543 households with at least one member who is a senior
• 1,932 households with at least one member who is disabled
• 1,067 households with at least one child under the age of 6 years old
• 506 households with at least one member who is a veteran
• 829 households headed by a single female parent
• 84 households headed by a single male parent
• 65% (or 3,455 households) earned less than 100% of the Federal Poverty Level
• 48% of the households served were at risk of having their heat turned off.

Community Services Consortium (CSC) is a state-designated Community Action Agency serving Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties with housing, nutrition, economic stability, and educational assistance programs since 1980.

To support this program or any of CSC’s poverty-fighting programs and services, visit our website at www.communityservices.us. Donations may be made through our website or mailed to our main office: Community Services Consortium, 245 Broadalbin Street, Suite 2A, Albany, OR 97321.

Basic Budgeting Workshop: Taking Control of your Money

Emergency Services of Community Services Consortium presents the Basic Budgeting Workshop.

This workshop is a two hour class that focuses on learning how to take control of our money by setting up a monthly budget and spending plan. The workshop is offered to any CSC client receiving housing or energy assistance.

Topics covered in this workshops include:

• Identifying and prioritizing expenses
• Tips for trimming your budget
• Creating a monthly budget
• Setting financial goals
• Developing a spending plan that is right for YOU And More!

The Basic Budgeting Workshop is held monthly. If you are unable to attend a workshop in your area, please contact Cindy Pratt-DeMarzo at (541)758-2632 or via email:  cpratt@communityservices.us for future workshop dates.

Basic Budgeting Workshop Schedule:

• Monday, October 22, 2012, 10:00AM-12:00 PM
• Monday, November 5, 2012,  2:00-4:00 PM
• Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 1:00-3:00 PM

Location:  CSC Corvallis Office, 545 SW 2nd Street, Suite A, Corvallis, OR 97333

The Basic Budgeting Workshop is FREE but you must register!

Instructor:  Cindy Pratt-DeMarzo, (541) 758-2632

For Attending:  Receive a FREE personal Planner and Money Organizer!  

Please Note: Income eligibility applies to attend workshop.

LIHEAP Program Serves 7,257 Households in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties

During the 2011-2012 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season, Community Services Consortium served 7,257 households in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties.

Some interesting statistics on those households served during the 2011-2012 LIHEAP season include:

1. Total energy payments: $2,224,279.50


2. Total served: 7,527 households (15% decrease over 2010-2011) which included 17,734 individuals (16% decrease over 2010-2011)


3. Of the 7,527 households served:
• 2,158 households had at least one senior member
• 2,698 households had at least one permanently disabled person
• 1,614 households had at least one child under the age of 6 years old
• 934 households had at least one child under the age of 3 years old
• 1,212 households headed by a single female parent
• 136 households headed by a single male parent


4. Of the 7,257 households served, 56% (4,058) of households earned less than 100% of poverty (at 100% of poverty, a household of 2 would have earned less than $1,226 per month gross income, and a household of 4 would have earned less than $1,863 per month gross income).


5. 48% of the households served had a shut off or a past due notice.


6. Unduplicated households served by county:
• Linn County: 4,074 households/10,567 individuals
• Benton County: 1,538 households/3,713 individuals
• Lincoln County: 1,645 households/3,454 individuals

Programs like LIHEAP are critical for keeping low-income households safe, healthy, and warm. Did you know that some of the consequences of unaffordable heating costs include:

• An increase in hunger and malnutrition when people are forced to choose between heating and eating.
• Personal health suffers as people are not able to fill prescriptions, must skip or reduce their medications, or go without needed medical or dental care.
• The elderly, people with disabilities or medical conditions, and small children are put at risk of hypothermia.
• Health and safety is endangered by people using alternate heat or light sources such as kerosene heaters, candles, lanterns, fireplaces or charcoal briquettes.
• Evictions increase and more people become homeless. Many never regain their housing and children leave school.
• Loss of utility service contributes to children going into foster care, as living without utility service is considered neglect.
• People in subsidized housing risk losing their housing voucher if their power is shut off.

If you or your organization would like to help, tax-deductible donations to assist low-income families may be made payable to:

Emergency Services

Energy Assistance Program 2012-2013

Community Services Consortium

250 Broadalbin St. SW, Suite 2A

Albany, OR 97321

541-928-6335, ext. 314

CSC Celebrated Weatherization Month In October

This is the time of year when temperatures start to fall and many families in our communities turn up the heat. Low-income families don’t always have that option because these household pay 14% of their annual incomes for energy compared with 3.5% of most households. Many low-income families have been trying to catch up with bills because of the last year’s high-fuel prices or are struggling just to have their services reconnected. In fact many of the families are considering how they will make it through the winter without heat.

Community Services Consortium’s (CSC) Weatherization Assistance Program serving Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties addresses these daily energy concerns. The benefits provided through CSC’s Weatherization Assistance Program are many. The program reduces the energy cost by providing free weatherization services to low-income homeowners and renters by installing cost-effective and energy efficiency measures.

While everone’s home is different, it’s possible for a typical household to save $300 or more a year in energy costs through weatherization. During the last 30 years, CSC’s Weatherization program has helped to make over 7,300 homes safer, warmer and less expensive to live in. The dollar savings alone make a big difference for the families.

Remember: Saving energy means saving money!

You can save energy in your home by taking these steps :

· Turn off lights, computers and other electronic appliance when not in use.

· Lower the thermostat and dress warmer. Turn your thermostat down at night and whenever the house is not occupied. Try 68 degrees F during the day and 55 degrees at night.

· Lower the temperature on your electric water heater to 120 degrees F. Turn it off when leaving for extended periods of time.

· Take short showers instead of baths.

· Wash full loads of clothes; use warm or cold water to wash, cold water to rinse.

· Clean dryer lint filter after every use.

Energy Conservation Workshops for People with Low Incomes

Stephanie Bugni, from the Emergency Services Department Presents Energy Conservation Workshop

Sign up for an Energy Conservation Workshop and learn about what affects your energy bill, what are the top 5 highest energy users in your home. Learn all the small things you can do to make a difference on your energy bills.

For attending the workshop to help improve your home’s energy efficiency, you will receive:


a FREE weatherization kit valued at over $65!
A workbook with hundreds of energy saving tips!
you will be eligible for a free home energy audit

To sign up for a workshop:
Contact Stephanie Bugni, Energy Education Coordinatior at (541) 758-2639 or Email sbugni@communityservices.us

Energy Education Workshop Schedule
Albany
Workshops are held at Community Services Consortium, 250 Broadalbin SW, Suite 2A,
Friday, October 15th 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 27th 10:00 - Noon

Corvallis
Workshops are held at Community Services Consortium, 545 SW 2nd St. – Suite A (upstairs), Monday, October 11th, 10:00 a.m. –Noon
Monday, October 18th, 2:00 p.m. –Noon

Lebanon
Workshops are held at Community Services Consortium, 380 Market St.,
Wednesday, October 13th 2:00—4:00
Friday, October 29th, 10:00 –Noon

Newport
workshops are held at Community Services Consortium, 120 NE Avery St., (Hiland Castle room) Tuesday, October 19th 10:00–Noon
Tuesday, October 19th 1:00–3:00

*Energy Conservation Workshops are held monthly. If you are unable to attend a workshop in your area, please contact Stephanie Bugni at (541) 758-2639 or sbugni@communityservices.us for future workshop dates.

Please Share with Clients ...$ HELP $with Heating Bills

LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program which provides assistance to income eligible households once each heating season. The intent of LIHEAP is to help low income households offset their winter heating costs. LIHEAP is not an entitlement program. The LIHEAP program is operated by Community Services Consortium (CSC) and began taking calls December 1st, 2009, to set up appointments at our major offices in Benton, Linn, and Lincoln counties. To qualify, a household must have an income at or below the following limits:

Household Size / Monthly Gross Income
1 / $ 1,757.75
2 / $ 2,298.58
3 / $ 2,839.42
4 / $ 3,380.25
5 / $ 3,921.08
6 / $ 4,461.92

Call for an appointment at:
BENTON COUNTY
752-2840
545 SW 2nd (upstairs, Rm #2)
Corvallis, OR 97333

LINN COUNTY
926-7163
250 Broadalbin St. SW, Suite 2J
(Two Rivers Market-Upstairs)
Albany, OR 97321

380 Market St.
451-4408
Lebanon, OR 97355

LINCOLN COUNTY
265-3293
120 NE Avery St.
Newport, OR 97365

APPOINTMENTS ARE NECESSARY AT ALL SITES
(and take approximately ½ hour each).