Program areas at East Central Illinois Community Action Agency
Low income home energy assistance program (liheap) provides a one-time energy bill assistance to families with low incomes to help defray a portion of their winter heating costs. Assistance to each household is based on types of fuel utilized, income levels, and geographic region. In the fiscal year of 2023, 7,175 income eligible households received liheap services. Liheap funds also allow families who are disconnected to receive additional assistance to restore heat and to repair or replace inoperable or dangerous furnaces. In the fiscal year of 2023, the Agency provided liheap furance repair/replacement assistance in 29 households. The percentage of income payment plan (pipp) program assisted 777 households make monthly utility-bill assistance payments towards their utility bills in the fical year of 2023. A total of $9,291,924 in liheap funds was expended to assist families in ford, iroquois and vermilion counties.
The Illinois home weatherization assistance program (ihwap) provides income eligible and qualified homeowners and renters with weatherization measures within the homes that increases the homes' energy conservation and ultimately reduces heating and cooling utility bills. All houses receive a thorough inspection by the state of Illinois certified assessors. Weatherization measures may include repair or replacement of hvac systems and hot water tanks, insulation of walls, attics and crawl spaces, sealing and caulking of doors and windows and minor roof repairs. In the fiscal year of 2023, 24 homes recevied weatherization measures, and a total of $333,637 of housing project funds was expended to households in ford, iroquois and vermilion counties.
Low income household water assistance program (lihwap) provide a one-time payment assistance to aid restoration, prevent disconnection and reduce arrearages of household water bills and sewage fees. In the fiscal year of 2023, 2,301 income eligible households received lihwap assistance, and a total of $784,495 was expended to assist families in ford, iroquois and vermilion counties.
Other program services
Community services block grant (csbg) services are designed to help families overcome immediate crisis and obtain self-sufficiency. Specific services offered through csbg are determined annually via a Community needs assessment. Csbg services offered are: college scholarship, employment readiness resources (ie. Uniforms), summer academic camp registration sponsorship, senior nutrition meals trainings and resources; rent and rent deposit assitance, natural desaster crises assistance, car repairs, and three annual health and wellness events. In the fiscal year 2023, 947 income eligible households received varied csbg assistance; and a total of $446,823 of Community services funds was expended to assist families in ford, iroquois and vermilion counties.