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Yamhill County assistance programs.

The Yamhill Community Action Partnership, located at 800 N.E. Second St. in McMinnville (503) 472-0457, provides low and moderate income families with access to resources and programs that can help them through difficult times. They offer programs to help pay energy bills, housing assistance, food aid, and more. Find a sampling of the programs they offer below, and contact them to apply, or learn about other options they may have for you.

Emergency Financial Assistance Programs - Several options are available, including

• Non-Heating Utility Bill Assistance: Money for water and sewer, telephone bills and more
• Transportation: bus passes, funds for car insurance, tires, licensing, and car repairs
• Education: pay for testing or training fees, and free books

HOME Tenant-Based Assistance - The HOME TBA Program will pay for both past, current or future rent and will even help with refundable security deposits. This assistance program cannot pay for mortgage assistance. In some instances, an applicant’s total household income may be low enough to receive a small grant to pay for utility or heating bills as well.

Energy Bill Assistance Programs

• OEAP - This is known as Oregon Energy Assistance Program. It is for PGE customers only. The OEAP program has qualifying criteria including income eligibility. Priority status and assistance may be given to households with no power or who have received a shutoff notice.
• LIEAP - Low income, senior and disabled households can get aid from the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program.
• OLGA - Known as Oregon Low-Income Gas Assistance. This is for Northwest Natural Gas (NWNG) customers only.

Yamhill Community Action Partnership Weatherization Program - This will provide for free weatherization services to income eligible residents, both homeowners and renters, who live in Yamhill County.

Funding provided by the federal government will be used to weatherize homes and help people reduce their energy bills. There is no cost to the renter or homeowner, and at no time is there a lien or attachment placed on the homeowners property or possessions. The primary purpose of this program is to lower energy usage, and help lower your utility bills as well as heating expenses.

Assistance From Friends In Service of Humanity (F.I.S.H)

This organization primarily provides food assistance, but they may also be able to help with other expenses. They receive and try to fulfill requests for rent or mortgage assistance, provide funds to help pay utility or heating bills or money for repairing a car. Whatever the case and the request is, the bottom line is that numbers of the needy are certainly growing. F.I.S.H. experienced about a 30 percent increase in clients from last year. They help hundreds of families per month. Contact them at 503-538-4444 to learn more or to apply for aid.