Emergency / Stabilization - Several different funding sources allow us to provide utility assistance. These include: Energy Assistance Program (EA), Emergency Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP), Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), Dollar-More, business and community donations.

The Energy Assistance Program (EA) is available to provide financial assistance to low-income households in meeting their home heating costs. Energy assistance is a time limited program and households must apply within the specified application period in order to be considered for assistance with their home heating costs.

Eligibility requirements:

• Each household member must be a citizen of the United States or an alien admitted for permanent residence
• Each household’s resources may not exceed $3,000.
• Each household (head of household/spouse) must establish that they have an account in their name or meet the definition of a renter or landlord applicant and are incurring heating costs.
• Each household must meet specified income guidelines based on their household size, as set forth in the Income Range and Payment Levels Charts.

The Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) is available to assist families at or below the 125% poverty level to avoid disconnection of utilities (gas or electric, depending on the household’s main source of heat). The program begins each year in November and households are served on a first come, first served basis. Summer ECIP begins in June and runs through September. The following materials are necessary when applying for utility assistance:

• Proof of income for previous month for all persons in household including: wages, child support, SSI, SSA, or TANF.
• All social security cards for persons in household.
• Disconnection notice from the utility company in filer’s name.
• If name has changed, must bring marriage license or divorce decree and change name with utility company.
• Letter from landlord if utilities are in landlord’s name.

Eligibility for other funding varies.

Missouri Housing Trust Fund (MHTF) - provides families who are facing homelessness, assistance primarily for utilities and rent or mortgage payments. The program is one of the few that gives our agency the flexibility to pay deposits for these needs.

Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) - Provides funds for emergency utility payments, food vouchers, and payment for shelter when no other funds are available.

Dollar-Help - is a crisis intervention program established to provide financial assistance to people who cannot pay delinquent heating bills and who have exhausted all avenues of public funds for energy assistance. It is a not-for-profit corporation.