Title
Health and Human Services Agency, Community Services Division, recommending the Board adopt Resolution 014-2015 to:
1) Authorize the Chair to sign funding Agreement 15B-3008 (County Agreement 327-F1511) with the California Department of Community Services and Development for the provision of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) services to eligible residents of El Dorado and Alpine Counties with a term beginning January 1, 2015 through January 31, 2016 and with an initial allocation amount of $2,121,529;
2) Authorize the Chair to sign the Certification Regarding Lobbying as required by the California Department of Community Services and Development;
3) Authorize the Chair to execute any future amendments thereto, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, that increase the estimated total maximum dollar amount of the 2015 LIHEAP funding allocation to a maximum of $2,400,000, the increase will be budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2015/16 budget, and that do not change the term;
4) Authorize the Health and Human Services Director, or designee, to execute any administrative documents relating to said Agreement including required fiscal and programmatic reports; and
5) Authorize the Health and Human Services Agency to incur expenses claimable to Agreement 15B-3008's start date and prior to final execution of said Agreement to allow for the provision of potentially life-saving services.
FUNDING: Federal Funding.
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
There is no Net County Cost associated with this revenue Agreement. Sufficient appropriations were included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-15 Budget and any additional funds made available through contract amendment(s) will be included in HHSA's Recommended FY 2015-16 Budget.
Background
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program that assists low-income households with offsetting their energy costs by crediting their utility accounts, providing assistance in obtaining firewood or heating fuel and by installing energy saving measures on their homes through the Weatherization program. The County of El Dorado has received this LIHEAP grant allocation since the early 1980s. LIHEAP services have historically been in great demand, and continued high energy costs render them even more critical to the many frail, vulnerable residents on fixed incomes. LIHEAP consists of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Program and the Home Weatherization Program.
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) provides assistance to income eligible El Dorado County and Alpine County households to offset the cost of heating and cooling of their homes. Eligible homeowners or renters may qualify to have specific payment amounts credited to their electric utility accounts or may receive help obtaining firewood, propane, pellets or heating oil. The HEAP Program also coordinates the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP), which provides assistance to low-income households that are in a crisis situation. Examples include a household that has received a 24- to 48-hour disconnect notice or service termination by its utility company or a household facing an energy-related crisis of life-threatening emergency in the applicant's household, including a combustible appliance or the repair or replacement of a heating and cooling unit.
The Home Weatherization Program provides energy efficiency measures to income eligible El Dorado County and Alpine County homeowners and renters, which helps reduce their energy costs and improve their health and safety. Services are tailored to each home and designed for maximum cost savings. The Home Weatherization Program checks major energy systems to ensure occupant safety and installs cost-effective energy-saving measures in qualified low-income households free of charge. Energy saving measures include: insulation, caulking, water heater blanket, ceiling fans, energy efficient lighting, heating/cooling system repair, and other conservation measures.
Reason for Recommendation
This revenue agreement is critical to HHSA's ability to provide assistance to qualified County residents (and qualified Alpine County residents) who are in dire need of weatherization measures to their residence to help protect them from the wide range of weather conditions; and also to those qualified El Dorado and Alpine County residents who have fallen behind in paying for heating and/or cooling which could become a life-threatening situation, especially for residents who are frail and vulnerable and on fixed incomes. Priority for these services is given to the elderly, disabled, and families with children under five.
Clerk of the Board Follow Up Actions
1. Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of the Chair on two (2) originals of Agreement 15B-3008, two originals of the Certification Regarding Lobbying, and three (3) originals of the Resolution.
2. Clerk of the Board to provide two (2) certified Minute Orders.
3. Clerk of the Board to return all signed original documents to HHSA at 3057 Briw Road.
Contact
Don Ashton, M.P.A., Director
Concurrences
County Counsel, Risk Management, and Information Technologies