Washington County assistance programs.
There are two main agencies to turn to for help in Washington County Alabama. They include the local community action agency as well as the Department of Human Resources. Below is more information on the programs that the two organizations administer for low income and struggling families.
The local Community Action Agency, Inc. supports both Washington County as well as nearby regions. Both short term aid is offered as well as long term, anti-poverty services.
Homeless prevention is provided in the form of emergency rent or mortgage payment assistance. If funds are available, the agency can assist with, at most, one-month of your rent or mortgage. The cash grant paid out will need to keep a family from becoming homeless during this period. An applicant will need to be income eligible to receive any type of financial assistance. Not all expenses will be paid for. For example, security deposits, late fees, interest expenses or other costs are ineligible. The applicant must also have a plan in place to get back on track and meet other program terms.
This is the place to turn to in Washington County for the U.S. Department of Energy Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It is offered in the county in partnership with the federal government and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, or ADECA.
LIHEAP can assists eligible very low-income and poor households with paying their heating and cooling energy bills. The grants from the program are very important during the hot summer or cold winter months when utility bills run higher. Other energy bill programs exist in Alabama. Click here.
Another community action program is Weatherization. This has the potential to permanently reduce energy bills of qualified low-income families, seniors, and others in Washington County and Chatom. It will pay for home repairs proven to be both cost-effective and that will also result in energy efficiency. Examples of what the government will pay for includes attic and wall insulation, replacing broken glass panes, reducing air infiltration with caulking, replacing some appliances with more efficient units, door weather stripping, performing basic tune-ups to heating and cooling systems, and installing incandescent lighting with energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs. People can potentially save hundreds of dollars per year on their bills from this service.
Water bill assistance may be available in a crisis. It is available for income eligible people. If it is offered, this is a one-time only program. Any type of aid is strictly based on funding availability and is not guaranteed, and this really applies for every Washington County Community action program.
Staff can provide information and referral services in partnership with churches, non-profits in Chatom, the Alabama United Way and many other sources. Get information on and connected with hundreds of additional financial assistance programs and services.
A Thrift Store is open to the public. It specializes in selling gently used yet affordable priced clothing, home improvement and household items. Those qualified low income families or individuals that are displaced by fire are eligible to receive a voucher for free clothing, basic needs and other household items. This is run in partnership with churches, the Salvation Army and other charities.
Additional emergency services and low income programs include food vouchers, housing payments to renters or households in danger of becoming homeless through an unforeseen circumstance, and even occasional prescription assistance to eligible clients when funds are available. Click low income resources.
Get information on Head Start, Family Case Management, Disability Services and Support, Employment Programs, Health Screenings (Dental, Vision and Hearing) and Mental Health Services for Children and Families.
Call the community action agency at (251) 457-5700. Learn more.
Washington County Department Of Human Resources is the leading government agency. It provides the poor and low income with financial assistance and social services to eligible families. Some of the public aid includes food stamps (SNAP), child welfare, government cash assistance (TANF-Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), child and adult protection, Medicaid certification for non-elderly persons, JOBS program, senior assistance,, and various other social services. 14921 St. Stephens Road, Chatom, Alabama 36518, telephone (251) 847-6100.
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