Help from non-profits, including Community Action in Tulsa.
Financial assistance and basic needs can be addressed by the Community Action Agency and non-profits in Tulsa County in Oklahoma. Staff from the non-profit can help qualified low income families and others, such as the unemployed or working poor, apply for government and private assistance. In addition to that, case managers from CAP of Tulsa offer clients with educational services, job training, credit repair and ongoing self-sufficiency type services.
Financial resources from CAP Tulsa
The staff from CAP of Tulsa County connect low-income families to the right resources designed to help them get safe, permanent housing. Working together with non-profits, local PHAs, HUD and other agencies, this program aims to refer people to affordable housing resources. Together the agencies may offer assistance with paying rent, security deposits, and maybe even help with a utility payments. Note in some cases security deposit assistance may not be funded by the CAP due to limited funding so a loan may be issued instead.
Grants for paying utility bills from LIHEAP - Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is a form of financial assistance to eligible families for making their monthly energy bills payments. In general, to be eligible for a grant, the household’s net income must fall below the fifty percentile (50%) range of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Once the application is approved by a community action agency, a one-time payment funded by the State of Oklahoma and federal government will be made to the designated utility account.
There are two types of financial assistance provided by LIHEAP. There is the Regular and Crisis Assistance. For regular, these are usually accepted quarterly (as funding allows) and applicants are notified of eligibility. If funds are not available, applicants may be short listed and assistance may be provided on a later date.
On the other hand, the second option of crisis assistance is immediately made available to eligible families that had their utilities and services already disconnected. Financial help or cash grants will be provided in a fast track manner in those cases. Interested households should contact their local Community Action Project for more information or to complete an application.
Weatherization Measures consist of a series of preventive maintenance measures that prepares a house or apartment for extreme weather conditions such as winter and summer. During these times, the house of a client should have proper air ventilation and heat circulation throughout so as not to affect the health or safety of its residents. This process also optimizes the temperatures available during these seasons so as to minimize costs of the homeowner to pay for heat or air cooling. More over, weatherization can improve sanitary conditions, comfort and economical functions of the home.
Some of what may be done by contractors of CAP Tulsa include doors and windows are caulked and/or weather-stripped, broken window panes and rotten window sashes are replaced to avoid occurrence of molds, leaks within the chimney area are repaired and heating ducts, heaters, floors and attics might be insulated for free.
If you or a member of the home is elderly, handicapped or a low-income individual with children in the household, CAP can “weatherize” the house with no further cost to the applicant. This service is equally provided to homeowners and people who rent their homes.
Rent and housing assistance can be organized by the Tulsa County Community Action Agency. There are homeless prevention resources, legal aid to stop evictions, loans and more. Everyone from seniors to low income tenants can apply, or find other programs for stopping homelessness in Oklahoma.
Case Management or Social Services is a strategy that helps struggling families and/or an individual face multiple challenges. It designs and implements a wide range of problem-solving processes that if done over time will allow the individual to reach permanent self-sufficiency. This program receives funding through the state of Oklahoma HAP - Homeless Assistance Program and the Human Services Development Fund (HSDF).
Funded by the Federal Government, the WIC (Women, Infant and Children) program distributes healthy supplemental foods, formula and nutritional services to pregnant women, infants, newborns and children under the age of five.
It generally aims to decrease the risk of poor birth outcomes. The WIC Program is committed to improving the health of income qualified pregnant women in Tulsa County. It is providing them with nutrition education, free healthy foods, and referrals to health and social service programs during the critical stages of early childhood development.
Using the Home Choice Voucher Program, very low-income households, including seniors or the disabled, of Tulsa County can be assisted to have decent, safe and sanitary living conditions. Private apartments may be selected by participants. This is all done through the efforts of this rental subsidy or assistance program.
However, the housing assistance Voucher Program, formally known as section 8, has expanded to help families purchase homes as well. This program allows low to moderate income families to obtain the status of being homeowners.
Participants can also benefit from the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program. This is a supported HUD service that encourages communities to help assisted families obtain steady employment and stability in their housing situation. In this case, the families are motivated by specialists and will need to set goals to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency.
Summer Food Service Program, or SFSP, has been established to ensure that children from low income families across Tulsa continue to receive nutritious meals during semester and holiday breaks and vacation. It is primarily operational during the summer months of roughly May until September. Free meals or snacks, which are crafted to meet Federal Nutrition guidelines, are provided to all children at designated SFSP venues, such as non-profits and churches. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds this program through its Food and Nutrition Service in partnership with Department of Human Services.
Other government and assistance programs from Community Action Project (CAP) of Tulsa County may include:
- Applications and guidance on Medicaid, TANF & SNAP Food Stamps
- Locations of Food pantries and Government Emergency Food Programs
- Child Care vouchers
- Medical Care from Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
- Substance Abuse Treatment Programs
Community Action job and stability programs in Tulsa
Job training and opportunities to gain education are continuously given to the participants and staff members. Under the Family Self-Sufficiency Program (see above), an interest-bearing FSS account is established by the community action agency for each participating family.
Community Action of Tulsa County has created programs to end poverty and alleviate impoverished situations. Step by step, the programs available to the families aid them to gain employment, achieve financial freedom and to overcome money problems.
With the Family Advancement Program, the home becomes a real place where families can live freely, learn and grow. Clients can engage in beneficial livelihood sustaining programs. The program also shows stability in its free services available such as social benefits evaluation, tax credit assessment and filing and scholarship assistance for higher learning.
Clients of the CAP in Tulsa can get help with their credit card as well auto loan payments. This is done by offering free counseling or advice. Whether a loan or credit card from a major lender, such as BOA or Chase, or a car payment, staff from non-profits can help. Mediation, payment plans, and similar solutions may be used. Read more on solutions for paying debts.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) from the Community Action Agency provides income tax assistance. By appointment only, this United Way and IRS supported project provides free on-site tax preparation and referral services to low-income families and individuals.
The Work Ready Program of CAP is offered in partnership with the Department of Public Welfare. DPW refers clients to Work Ready, and those people will generally be receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
When someone qualifies, Work Ready provides a full range of employment and training services to assigned clients with limited employability, those who have failed repeatedly in other programs or who will be best served by the activities offered at CAP.
Services at the centers and community action agency include skills training, career counseling, job readiness assessment, guided job search from a counselor and placement in various non-profit locations for specific hands-on skills training. This can be arranged either through community service or paid work experience in Tulsa County. Community Action Project also partners with local businesses to facilitate subsidized full and part time employment opportunities. The Work Ready Program always maintains its focus on assisting low unemployed and TANF qualified clients toward the ultimate goal of unsubsidized, long term employment.
CAP in Tulsa County will refer clients to non-traditional forms of employment too. This can include hobby type jobs or side gigs, even car ride sharing or working from home. As there are various ways to earn an extra income.
Head Start in Tulsa
Children under the age of 6 can benefit from the regional Head Start Program. This is both a federal government and state of Oklahoma funded child development program. It is comprehensive and is involved in serving children from low-income families.
Students and children are provided with access to a learning environment that will develop their psycho-physical and intellectual skills that are appropriate to their age. The program aims to allow the child and his or her parents to participate in a variety of educational activities promoting their long term success.
Some of the developmental services implemented under the Head Start program include physical health, family support, advocacy, education, mental health care, nutrition and social services. Aside from these, meals and snacks, such as breakfast and lunch, are freely provided daily.
The CAP of Tulsa County also partners with state of Oklahoma Family & Children Services to provide support, crisis intervention and extensive family counseling. The non-profit organization has also collaborated with the OSU Center for Health Sciences, or OSUCHS, to meet the health and dental care needs of enrolled children, their parents and families. Continue to learn more on Head Start.
Applying for help from Tulsa Community Action Agency
This non-profit organization provides referrals only. For any inquiries, or linkage to some of their partner organizations, call 918-295-1284 or 918-382-3200.
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