Kathy Mills, Author at CKCAC

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Summer Subsidy

LIHEAP and LIHWAP Summer Subsidy enrollment opens July 25th at Community Action Agencies.

Available to help Kentuckians in all 120 counties with electric, water, and/or wastewater bills.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 21, 2023): The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Low-Income Home Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Summer Subsidy Programs will be available soon through
Kentucky’s Community Action Agencies. These programs can assist households, up to and including 150 percent of
the federal poverty guidelines.

Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis starting July 25, 2023, through September 22, 2023, or until designated funds have been expended. Individuals should apply through their local Community Action
Agency office. To locate your local office, please call 800-456-3452 or visit www.capky.org/network.

Households can apply for one or both programs, and assistance is paid directly to the household’s vendor. Prior LIHEAP or LIHWAP program assistance does not impact a household’s eligibility. Households must meet
eligibility requirements, including income guidelines.

LIHEAP Summer Subsidy provides households with a one-time electric benefit ranging from $50 to $250, depending on income and housing category.

LIHWAP Summer Subsidy provides households with a one-time water service benefit, water and/or wastewater, ranging from $50 to $100, depending on housing category.

Community Action Kentucky administers LIHEAP and LIHWAP in partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services who receive the funding as a pass-through block grant from the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services. For more information about LIWHAP and LIHEAP, including contact information for all local Community Action agencies, please visit the Community Action Kentucky website at www.CAPKY.org.

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About Community Action Kentucky

Community Action Kentucky is the statewide association representing and assisting the 23 Community Action agencies across Kentucky that work to empower individuals and families to attain greater economic stability
and long-term success. With a presence in all 120 Kentucky counties, Community Action agencies provide lifechanging resources and programs to support a wide array of service areas, including food security, transportation,
home energy, early childhood education, senior support, emergency services, housing assistance, workforce development, youth enrichment and more. As a statewide voice for local agencies, Community Action Kentucky
works to address policy issues that impact low-income individuals and cultivates broad-reaching partnerships that improve the lives of thousands of Kentuckians, making it possible for them to achieve their goals. For more
information about Community Action Kentucky, visit www.CAPKY.org.

Central Kentucky Community Action Transportation Services (CKCATS)

INVITATION FOR BIDS
BID # 224-PV

CKCATS will receive bids pertaining to the speed bumps and 30 concrete parking blocks added to parking lot at Community Action 332 Hood Ave, Lebanon, KY 40033.

All bids must be turned in to CKCATS, 332 Hood Ave., Lebanon KY 40033, no later than 5:00 pm EST on July 28 , 2023. Bids cannot be accepted at any other location. The complete bid package can be requested in writing by email to kerri.taylor@ckcac.org on or before July 28, 2023 by 5:00 pm EST. Bids will be opened on August 14, 2023, EST 12:00 PM EST at a public bid opening at CKCATS, 332 Hood Ave., Lebanon KY 40033. Bids must be received by the designated date and time, and none will be considered thereafter.

Questions and Approved Equals Request Deadline:

Requests may be submitted in writing by email to kerri.taylor@ckcac.org on or before July 28, 2023, by 5:00 PM EST.

Answers to Questions and Approved Equals Requests:

Answers will be posted on ckcac.org on or before July 28, 2023. Changes and addendums will also be emailed to all knowns possible bidders based on the return of “Confirmation of Receipt”.

CKCATS reserves the right to reject any and all bids received, and to select that bid which it determines to be in its best interest. The award of this bid will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated bid price as permitted in KRS 45A.365.

All bid forms, information, and specifications regarding this bid are available from CKCATS. Bidders must submit their bid in a sealed envelope, and the bidder is advised to clearly mark the sealed bid with the bid number and description, opening time and date listed above. CKCATS is not responsible for the premature opening of, or the failure to open, a sealed bid not properly addressed or identified.

This bid package is subject to the requirements of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 26, Participations of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises in Department of Transportation Financial Assistance Programs. The bid package is subject to a financial assistance between CKCATS, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinets Office of Delivery, and the Federal Transit Administration.

Bidders are invited to attend in person at 12:00 PM EST on August 14, 2023 in order to hear the opening of the bids submitted.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Summer Subsidy Component 2023 Fact Sheet

Purpose:

To assist low-income households with home utility cost through:
LIHEAP: One-time bill payment assistance for home electric services.
LIHWAP: One-time bill payment assistance for home water services (water, wastewater, or a combination of both).

Operation:

Community Action Kentucky, Inc. will contract with twenty-three community action agencies to operate both programs in all 120 counties. Households should apply through their local Community Action Agency office.

Eligibility:

1. Must be responsible for home utility costs or pay utility costs as an undesignated portion of rent.

2.Household income must be at or below the following, relative to household size:

Household Size-Monthly Income

1-$1,823

2-$2,465

3-$3,108

4-$3,750

5-$4,393

6-$5,035

7-$5,678

8-$6,320

Add $643 for each additional family member.

Application Period: Applications must be made during the period July 25, 2023, through September 22, 2023, or until funds are expended.

Designated Representative: Applicants who are unable to apply for themselves must contact the local community action to make other arrangements. If the designated representative is not the head of household or spouse, the representative must have a signed statement giving authorization to apply for the household. Individuals without a designated representative should contact the local community action agency which may be able to assist them in finding one. Only one person from each household should apply.

Required Documents:
Applicants must bring the following:

Proof of Social Security Number or Permanent Residence card (Green Card) for each member of the household.

2. Proof of all household’s (all members) income from the preceding month.

3. Most current electric and/or water service bill, or statement from your landlord if they are included in your rent, or statement from utility company if you participate in a Pre-Pay.

4. LIHEAP: The account number and name on the account for main home energy source bill.

Benefits Provided:
LIHEAP: The benefit amount that a household receives will be based on housing category and income level. Benefits will be paid directly to the household’s electric vendor.
LIHWAP: The benefit amount that a household receives will be based on housing category. Benefits will be paid directly to the household’s water service vendor.

Client Referral: Clients requesting additional information regarding either LIHEAP or LIHWAP program should be referred to their local community action agency or Community Action Kentucky (CAK), toll-free number 1-800-456-3452 (TTY available for the hearing impaired).

Applicant Rights: Each applicant will be informed of their rights should they be denied assistance. Any applicant who wishes to appeal the case should be informed by local community action agency staff of the procedures for filing a complaint. Should the applicant not be satisfied with the local decision, they may further appeal to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Rules: Do NOT give false information or hide information to receive LIHEAP OR LIHWAP benefits. Use LIHEAP OR LIHWAP benefits only for your household. If you BREAK these rules, you may be stopped from receiving LIHEAP OR LIHWAP benefits, and you may be prosecuted for fraud. Report any information about fraud or misuse of LIHEAP OR LIHWAP benefits by calling the Fraud Hotline at 1-800-372-2970.

CKCAC Area Board of Directors Meeting

As a non-profit agency, Central Kentucky Community Action, Inc. is required to inform the local community of the Area Board of Director’s Meeting which is open to the public. The meeting will be on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at 2:30 PM EST at the Lincoln Trail Area Development District meeting room in Elizabethtown, KY. For more information, call the Central Office at 270-692-2136.

Weatherization At Work For The Clients We Serve

David Lindsey, Weatherization Program Director

The Weatherization Program Staff, as of June 30, 2023, are working to close out our fiscal year 2022/23. The Weatherization Program (WX) will close out the fiscal year with the following final number of clients who have received services during the 2022/23 program year; 24 jobs completed, 29 deferrals, 4 cancellations. The Weatherization Program is fully staffed with an in-house crew, and we are utilizing contractors to perform HVAC and Electrical work that we must perform to the dwellings receiving services. We look forward to the future of the new contract year of CKCAC’s Weatherization Program to progress and better serve our 8-county service area.

Our goal with weatherization is to continue to reduce energy waste and assure the health and safety of each client we serve through testing consisting of aliening air and thermal boundaries, pressure diagnostics, heating system diagnostics, indoor air quality, and base load energy consumption diagnostics.

Central Kentucky Community Action Council Weatherization program is fully staffed with a highly trained support and technical staff consisting of Denny Baxter-Dwelling Needs Evaluator EA/QCI, Josh Mattingly-Crew Leader, Mike Burden-Retrofit Installer, Seth Riggs-Retrofit Installer and Barbara Garrett-Weatherization Administrative Support Specialist. We would like to say a huge thank you to all WX staff for their dedication to improving the quality of work and the dedication to ensure the health and safety of all the clients we serve.

Central Kentucky Community Action Council has leveraged funds from utilities to expand the reach of the Weatherization Assistance Program. This year we are leveraging funding from DOE, DOE BIL, LIHEAP, East Kentucky Power, Kentucky Utilities, and Louisville Gas& Electric.

Kentucky Works Program

Tommy Wheatley, Kentucky Works Director

The Kentucky Works Program supports the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the following Kentucky counties: Anderson, Breckinridge, Bullitt, Franklin, Grayson, Hardin, Henry, Larue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, Washington, and Woodford. Our goal is to assess these individuals to identify barriers, work to overcome those barriers to make them self- sufficient. We also have job readiness classes to help with resumes, job search, job interviews, etc.

Covid-19 has had a significant impact on both of our programs over the past couple of years with a state of emergency “Good Cause exemption” where clients were not required to participate in the programs. This good cause exemption ended 7-1-2022 but there were still no sanctions due to non-participation until December 2022 so it has still had an impact. SNAP E & T just ended their state of emergency and starting July 1, 2023 Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents will be mandated to participate in the program again.

· We currently have 34 clients that are employed in the K-TAP Program. This is up 10 from when last reported. Our Employment Specialists continue to follow up with each of these clients and track the hours they are working. We served 57 clients in the K-Tap program for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022.

· On the SNAP Employment and Training program we continue to reach out to these clients and complete assessments when they are referred to us. We served 442 clients for the SNAP program during the last quarter.

· We continue to stay in touch with employers and if we do get referrals we match the clients skills with the employer needs to have a good match. We call new employers each week and keep a current job listing for each county we serve.

· We continue to see an impact with Covid on our Work Experience Program sites as many of them are still unable to accept our referrals. We currently have 67 sites in our 17 counties that we can send our clients to.

· Our staff continues to stay in touch with staff meeting every other month, either in person or virtually to discuss all relative matters in the program.

· We continue to offer a wage subsidy program where if an employer hires one of our K-TAP clients they will be reimbursed for a portion of their wages during the first six month of employment.

· We are under contract for KTAP and SNAP E & T through June 2024.

Goode News-July 2023

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Hal B. Goode, Executive Director

As the summer sun shines brightly upon us, I hope this newsletter finds you all in good health and high spirits. At Central Kentucky Community Action, we continue our commitment to serving and supporting all members of our community, with a particular focus this month on our cherished seniors.

The summer season can bring both joy and challenges for our older adults. While many seniors look forward to enjoying the warm weather and engaging in outdoor activities, it is crucial that we also ensure their safety and well-being during these months. In this article, I would like to share some valuable information and tips on how we can help our seniors make the most of their summer while prioritizing their safety.

1. Stay Hydrated and Beat the Heat: High temperatures during summer can pose risks, especially for seniors. Encourage them to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Provide information about the signs of dehydration and heatstroke, such as dizziness, confusion, or excessive sweating. It is also helpful to remind them to avoid direct exposure to the sun during peak hours and to seek shade whenever possible.

2. Check-In Regularly: Loneliness and isolation can intensify during the summer months when family members and friends may be away on vacation. Encourage community members to regularly check in on their senior neighbors, friends, and relatives. A simple phone call, a visit, or organizing social events can make a significant difference in combating social isolation and ensuring their well-being.

3. Provide Transportation Support: Help seniors access transportation for medical appointments, grocery shopping, or social engagements. Offer assistance in coordinating rides through local community transportation services, volunteer programs, or by organizing a carpooling system within the neighborhood. Ensuring reliable transportation options will help seniors remain active and engaged in the community. Our CATS Transportation stands ready to assist.

4. Safety in the Outdoors: Outdoor activities are enjoyable, but it is important to remind seniors about safety precautions. Encourage them to wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, apply sunscreen regularly, and wear a hat and sunglasses to protect against harmful UV rays. Provide information about the risks of insect bites and the importance of using insect repellents when spending time outdoors.

5. Home Safety Checks: Arrange for home safety inspections to identify and address potential hazards that may be more prevalent during the summer. Ensure that seniors have proper ventilation, fans, or air conditioning to keep their homes cool. Check for loose rugs, slippery floors, or other tripping hazards that could lead to falls.

6. Emergency Preparedness: Educate seniors about emergency preparedness measures. Provide them with resources to create an emergency kit containing essentials such as water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, and a battery-powered radio. Encourage them to develop an emergency plan and share it with a trusted neighbor or family member.

Remember, a small act of kindness can brighten someone’s day and have a lasting impact on their lives. Let’s come together as a community and ensure that our beloved seniors have a safe and enjoyable summer season.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our community’s well-being. Together, we can make a difference.

More to come…………much more………………

CKCAC Area Special Called Board of Directors Meeting

As a non-profit agency, Central Kentucky Community Action, Inc. is required to inform the local community of the Area Special Called Board of Director’s Meeting which is open to the public. The meeting will be via Zoom on Wednesday, June 30, 2023, at 11:00am EST. For more information, call the Central Office at 270-692-2136.