HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) December 2, 2008

LIHEAP Grant Grant Implementation Summary Requested Action PRESENTATION OUTLINE

LIHEAP Grant Grant Implementation Summary Requested Action PRESENTATION OUTLINE

LIHEAP GRANT Funded by the Department of Health & Human Services through the Florida Department of Community Affairs The mission of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is to assist low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs An eligible household's income must not exceed 150% of the Federal Poverty Level

Health & Family Services has provided LIHEAP assistance since 1992 LIHEAP is an important component of our Family Support Services which also includes: –Family Resource Program –Crisis Assistance LIHEAP GRANT

Calls to HFS Crisis Assistance Program and Family Resource Program – Increased to 52,000 calls from 45,500 over a one year period. 14.3% increase 211 Calls : #1 request for services is LIHEAP

Current contract is $1.1 Million –Cooling Season: 60% of funds –Heating Season: 40% of funds Served 4,696 clients in FY LIHEAP GRANT

LIHEAP Grant Grant Implementation Summary Requested Action PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Health & Family Services Department has the opportunity to: –Utilize $4.3 Million in grant funding –Serve an additional 15,000 Orange County residents –Minimize cost to the County –Maximize benefits to the client –Leverage Departmental resources No increase to the Manning Table GRANT IMPLEMENTATION

By reallocating HFS Department resources we propose to: –Serve 20,000 residents between January 2009 and March 2010 –Increased access to LIHEAP benefits by adding 6 new full-time sites Produce a targeted information and marketing effort Engage our community partners

GRANT IMPLEMENTATION Services currently offered full time at: –Mable Butler Center Expanded sites will be phased: –First Phase will add: Hal Marston Center East Orange Center Bridges Center

GRANT IMPLEMENTATION Phase two –Pine Hills Center –Lake Underhill PCAN clinic –Taft Community Center with outreach to Southwood Community Center –Outreach efforts to Renaissance and Marks Street Senior Centers

GRANT IMPLEMENTATION OCPS Free/Reduced Lunch program

GRANT IMPLEMENTATION Foreclosure sites

GRANT IMPLEMENTATION New LIHEAP service sites

GRANT IMPLEMENTATION Coordinated approach to expanded services Each Division has a definitive role in the program –Youth & Family Services, Community Action, Cooperative Extension Assigned full-time staff to program –Head Start, CCC Assigned part-time staff to program

IMPLEMENTATION PROPOSAL Information and Marketing –Reach targeted audience with multilingual information effort –Utilize print, electronic and visual media –Reach potential clients through places of work, worship, transportation and relaxation

LIHEAP Grant Implementation Proposal Summary Requested Action PRESENTATION OUTLINE

SUMMARY Health & Family Services will: –Receive an additional $3.2 Million –Increase program capacity –At a minimal cost to the County –While increasing client access to LIHEAP –Community-based approach to services –Utilization of existing County staff

LIHEAP Grant Implementation Proposal Summary Requested Action PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Approval to accept $4.3 Million in grant funds from the Florida Department of Community Affairs to serve LIHEAP eligible residents in Orange County with no increase in the Manning Table and at minimal cost to the County. REQUESTED ACTION