HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8778INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No- 8778
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 6, 2006
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SUBJECT: Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)
At the April 25th Council meeting, Council Member Wheatfall asked for an update on the Electric
Utility Assistance Program covering: I) Current status of the program and how it is administered: 2)
Amount of grant funds available for assistance with this summer's cooling bills.
The City of Fort Worth serves as the Community Action Agency for all of Tarrant County and
receives funding from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). Parks
and Community Services' Community Action Partners (CAP) administers the Comprehensive
Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which provides financial assistance to low-income households
whose income is at or below 125 % of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. The work is
supported by Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which provides the salaries of staff who
administer the energy assistance and case management programs. The contract year for both CEAP
and CSBG runs from January — December. CAP received $1,658.929 in CEAP funding for January
2005 — December 2005, and all funds were obligated by October, 2005. CAP has received
$1,190,004 in CEAP funding for program year 2006, a 28% reduction from the previous year. In
addition to funding from the State. CAP will receive $180,000 from TXU Energy and $40,000 from
Atmos Energy for the 2006 operating year. Upon receipt of funding from all sources- the CEAP
Coordinator reviews each CAP center's previous caseload and expenditures to determine the
allocation for that location. 211 Texas and other Community Based Organizations are notified and
Public Service Announcements are placed in newspapers to announce the acceptance of
applications for the CEAP.
During the first quarter of 2006, the CAP offices concentrated on certifying eligible
Elderlyi'Disabled households. Most of these households had extremely high utility bills, as a result
of the dramatic increase in fuel costs. Most of the households certified received their maximum
allocation, which resulted in all funds for the Elderly; /Disabled component being obligated by
March.
The Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) has four (4) components.
• Elderly/Disabled -- budgeted S 3 64 080, obligate'd S3641,080 (100%)
o provides utility assistance fior households whose composition must consist mf a head
of household over a'o-- 60 and ma� also -1clude other adults over ace 60, disabled
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persons o.- t.£ -_ under age 18 and st,111. I Doi,
Co-Payment — butkeled S 15K 035, obli itedS_12,080,
o, a -s- enmr, in a case management prolgran-, desigmed
ssl I I loyab'e households to varticiriale
to enable energy, self-sufficiency;
t ating/Cooling -- budgeted $364,080, obl�gated S 1 6X 063 (46%)
'des the revair IT f #. 1 replacement of rneffic'ent heaters. air conchitioner'S,.
provi
ref igenau,-lrs. ".vater he,,aters and propane tatinks-1 atid
ISSUED BY TIDE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 6, 2006
Page 2 of 3
SUBJECT: Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)
its
• Energy Crisis — budgeted $104,023, obligated SO (0 °0} -- have not met the State aloproivd
crisis condition
o allow payments for gas, electric and propane bills when certain predetermined
weather conditions are met.
CEAP does not have a component which allows for one -time or "emergency" payment of heating
and cooling utility bills that are not a result of extreme temperatures. The contract between the City
and the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs stipulates the maximum amount of
funds that can be expended per component. Each household is allowed a maximum allocation
based on the household income in relation to the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines and must meet
criteria for one of the four (4) CEAP components.
Households seeking assistance must conduct a face -to -face interview at one of the nine (9) CAP
offices that serve all of Tarrant County; each office serves a designated group of zip codes. Home
visits are conducted for applicants who are certified homebound by a medical professional.
"I'he following documentation is needed to determine eligibility:
• income of all household members for the past 30 days (check stubs, award letters and
employer's verification);
• picture identification of applicant:
• proof of residence; and
• copies of the utility bills to heat and cool their home.
CAP has been notified that Congress voted to release an additional $ 1 billion for the Low - Income
Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which funds the CEAP. TDHCA has been notified
that its allocation from these funds will be $38,276,836. Of this amount, the Cite of Fort Worth's
CAP anticipates receiving approximately $1 .2 million for the 2006 operating year. This additional
funding will be utilized to address current customers whose needs were partially addressed clue to
limited funds; potential customers whose requests have not been addressed due to funds being
exhausted: and for anticipated requests once funds have been received,
h e TINICA ims rn t with sevcral of -its r nl r]?s� Action Agencies Ws tr solicit input o the 4 iiio°i
etffect %e manner to iaa.odifs` its current method of ., rvice d lve— ,° aDd to address the increased cost
of heating g and co ling hone s across Texas, a e TDHC A Board is C"urrentiv C nsid grin =e several
plans to determine ine hove to appropriately distribute these funds, CAP anticipates receiving, its
allocation of these additional tunds in June 2006, Given the CLI. -rent need, these limited funds will
bfe, exhausted very quickly,
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS NO- 8778
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 6, 2006
Page 3 of 3
SUBJECT: Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program {LEAP)
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Should VOLI have any additional questions or concerns related to the Corriprehensive Encr'cfv
Assistance program please contact Randle 11anvood, Acting, Director at 817- 871 -5704.
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ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS