Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) An
outreach network and referral system must be established in each county to
advise potentially eligible households of the availability of energy
assistance.
(b) Outreach activities
must be implemented to ensure the identification and provision of services to
the following:
1. The elderly, ill,
bedridden, disabled and young children;
2. Those for whom access to the program is
difficult due to remoteness, frequent change of address, limited English
speaking ability, or lack of knowledge about service programs; and
3. Low income families.
(c) CAA or other non-profit agency outreach
responsibilities shall include, at a minimum, the following:
1. Distribution of copies of the Home Energy
Assistance Fact Sheet to all appropriate cooperating groups, agencies and
organizations including those involved in Food Stamp Program informational
activities, e.g., county offices on aging, community action agencies, municipal
welfare departments, Social Security Administration district offices, public
education, library and media facilities, police and fire departments, religious
organizations, migrant organizations, American Indian organizations and home
energy suppliers;
2. Distribution
of blank application forms and instructions to cooperating outreach groups,
agencies, and organizations so that they may be made available to the elderly
and the disabled;
3. Distribution
of sample applications and instructions for completion to all cooperating
outreach groups, agencies, and organizations;
4. Provision of sufficient information to
staff of cooperating groups, agencies, and organizations to enable them to
assist the potential applicant to assemble required documentation;
5. Contact with each home energy supplier
within the county to advise them of the existence of the HEA program and to
encourage them to make information regarding HEA available to their
customers.
(d) CAAs or
other non-profit agencies may initiate other outreach activities as they deem
appropriate.
(e) CAAs or other
non-profit agencies are permitted to outstation staff at other agencies to take
applications or to assist in reviewing applications taken by staff of those
agencies.
