Outreach and Referral Current Programs:
The Outreach and Referral programs office may be able to help keep you and your family safe and healthy. You or someone you know may be eligible for help with home heating costs, or assistance with utility bills or telephone installation. Outreach and Referral programs are targeted to low and very low income Maine homeowners and renters. Persons interested in applying for these programs should apply at the Waldo Community Action Partners office at 9 Field Street, Belfast, Maine.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)/Fuel Assistance: LIHEAP is a federally funded program to help low-income households pay their home energy bills. The program may pay a portion of your home heating bills, taking into account household's total gross income, household size, energy bills, geographic area and fuel type (electricity, natural gas, heating oil, propane, wood). Fuel assistance benefits can only be used for fuel delivered to heat your home; and if your household qualifies for assistance, LIHEAP will pay directly to the energy vendor. At the time of application, applicants must identify what primary fuel source heats their home and vendors are only allowed to deliver that fuel source if it's being paid for with the fuel assistance benefit. When applying for fuel assistance applicants may choose a contracted vendor of their choice. WCAP will begin taking fuel assistance applications beginning August 11, 2008. Appointments can be made by calling 338-3025 or stopping into the WCAP office at 9 Field Street, Belfast, Maine.
Low Income Assistance Program (LIAP): LIAP is available to low-income households who receive residential electric service and meet the eligibility criteria. The customer or a member of the customer's household must be eligible to receive a LIHEAP benefit and must not be receiving assistance for subsidized housing. Additional eligiblity criteria and benefit amounts will vary depending on the program being offered by the customer's utility.
Energy Crisis Intervention Program A (ECIP-A): LIHEAP may provide emergency assistance in the form of a payment to utility or fuel delivery companies if you have less than 1/8 of a tank of fuel or are in danger of having utility services disconnected.
Telephone Lifeline Program (TLP): Applicants must complete a certification process to determine eligiblity for a monthly credit of $13.50 on basic phone service or $10.00 installation fee on new service for low income families.
Eligibility: To see if you are eligible for services please make an appointment with the Outreach Office at 338-3025 or 1-800-498-3025. Please bring the following documents with you to the appointment: