Energy Assistance Programs Now Taking Applicants

    Phones rang and rang at the Warner Robins Neighborhood Service Center Monday, with folks inquiring about how and where to apply for help with their heating bills this year.

    The Economic Opportunity Council in Macon and the Middle Georgia Community Action Agency in Warner Robins both started taking applications from the homebound and elderly Monday for financial assistance this winter. The groups run programs that provide funding to low-income families, the elderly and homebound, to cover some of the cost of heating their homes.

 According to Robin Doster, Program Operations Director for the Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, about 80 people began lining up around 7:00 a.m. to apply at the Warner Robins center on Davis Dr.

    Katherine Brown, 68, of Warner Robins, was among the folks who lined up early Monday morning. She was scheduled for a 12:45 p.m. appointment, and was told she qualified for a $350 credit to be applied to her energy bill this winter.

"I feel really good, I really do," Brown said afterwards. "A lot of elderly can hardly get by with what they get a month."

    Brown said despite the early crowds, her appointment was hassle-free.

   Doster asks people interested in applying to call their neighborhood center in advance and set up an appointment. Also, make sure you bring all the documents you need to apply with you when you go.

    What you need:

• Proof of income
• Proof of age
• Social Security cards for each member of your household
• Utility bill for heating source

    Doster says Middle Georgia Community Action Agency's program helped about 9,000 people keep their homes warm last winter, and she expects to see the same demand this year.

"There are a lot of people out there who are hurting and need the assistance," Doster said.

    Applications will open to the general public on Dec. 1.

    If you live in Bibb County, you can apply for assistance through the Economic Opportunity Council.

    The Middle Georgia Community Action Agency runs the program for people who live in other Central Georgia counties.

    You must meet income guidelines and provide proof of your income.

    According to a news release, payments will be made primarily by checks to home energy suppliers for gas, electricity, wood, coal, or kerosene used in heating a home.  The one-time payments will average about $345 per household, the release says.

  Requirements:

• Applicants should have proof of income for the last 30 days for all household members.  This proof may be a paycheck stub, or a letter granting public assistance, Social Security, or unemployment benefits.  
•   Applicants must also have the social security numbers of all household members 18 years or older (proof of age will also need to be provided during the month of November), and their most recent utility or fuel bill.
• Households whose fuel costs are included in their rent are ineligible for assistance.

    To apply for assistance through the Middle Georgia Community Action Agency, contact your local Community Service Center at 478-275-0478.

 Community Service Centers (by county):

•  Bleckley County: (478) 934-7005, 242 E. Dykes Street, Cochran, GA 31014
• Byron: (478) 956-4522, 202 Mosley Road, Byron, P.O. Box 1012, Fort Valley, GA 31030
• Crawford County: 1-866-505-2987, 107 McCrary Street, Roberta, GA 31078
• Dodge County: (478) 374-2261, 324 Pine Street, Eastman, GA 31023
• Jones County: (478) 986-5663, 235 Highway 18 Connector, P.O. Box 2463, Gray, GA 31032
• Laurens County: (478) 275-0478, 127 High Street, Dublin, GA 31021
• Monroe County: (478) 994-6061, 821 Highway 41 South, P.O. Box 382, Forsyth, GA 31029
• Peach County: (478) 825-3193, 700 Spruce Street, Fort Valley, GA 31030
• Perry: 1-877-653-7169, 1060 Keith Drive, Perry, GA 31069
• Pulaski County: (478) 783-1013, 83 Lumpkin Street, Hawkinsville, GA 31036
• Telfair County: (888) 219-8818, 91 Telfair Street, Suite D, McRae, GA 31055 
• Treutlen County: (912) 529-3335, 502 Louisiana Avenue W, Soperton, GA 30457
• Twiggs County: (478) 988-0160, 724 Solomon Drive, Jeffersonville, GA 31044
• Warner Robins: (478) 328-0333, 1112 South Davis Drive,  P.O. Box 2286, Warner Robins, GA
• Wheeler County: (912) 568-1717, 409 McRae Street, Alamo, GA 30411
• Wilcox County: (229) 365-0077, 405 2nd Avenue, Rochelle, GA 31079

    For more information, you can call Middle Georgia Community Action Agency's program at 1-800-422-9063.  

    In Bibb County, contact the Economic Opportunity Council at 478-750-8689 or 478-330-6272.