TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute an agreement with Veterans in Community Service, Inc., for the use of the Neighborhood Resource Center to provide the Home Energy Assistance Program for up to five years, with an option to renew for two additional two-year periods, based on satisfactory performance and availability of State funding. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The State of California offers free utility payment assistance for low-income residents through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Currently, the only agency the State contracts with to provide services for Long Beach residents is Veterans in Community Service, Inc. (VICS), which serves clients out of its Whittier offices. The Whittier location is difficult for low-income Long Beach residents to utilize the program, especially seniors and those who rely on public transportation.
Since 2001, the City Council has approved agreements with VICS to provide field office space two days per month at the Neighborhood Resource Center (Center) to facilitate HEAP services for Long Beach residents. The Center is centrally located, easily accessible by public transportation, and is open to all Long Beach residents. The Department of Community Development, Neighborhood Services Bureau, is responsible for the management of the Center, located at 425 Atlantic Avenue. The current agreement with VICS expired on August 31,2007.
From September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007, VICS provided assistance to 630 Long Beach households at the Center. Per VICS, the average amount of financial assistance they provided to each household is $237.
The attached Program Plan for 2007/2008 outlines the free utility payment assistance provided by VICS to low-income residents, with priority given to those residents who have received a utility shut off notice. A Program Plan will be submitted each year to the Neighborhood Resource Center prior to the start of the program year. Funded by the State of California, Departm...
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