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Low
Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
The
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is funded by
the United States Department of Health and Human Services and
operated by the United Keetoowah Band Human Services Department.
The
LIHEAP Program is an Energy Assistance Program designed to assist
low income Indian households with Home Heating, Cooling, Crisis
Intervention, and Weatherization assistance. Eligible applicants
may receive LIHEAP assistance once every six months. The United
Keetoowah Band LIHEAP program does not cover re-connect fees.
Heating Assistance Payment
The
Heating Program provides assistance to eligible households for
their only source of heating: Wood, Natural Gas, Propane and
Electric. The payment will be paid directly to the energy
supplier/vendor. The heating Assistance Program runs during winter
months only. Homes that are "total-electric" are only eligible for
assistance with electric bills.
Summer Cooling
The
United Keetoowah Band LIHEAP program begins assistance with
cooling bills in the month of April and the cooling program runs
during the summer months only. The assistance offered under the
LIHEAP Summer Cooling Program varies from electric bills to air
conditioner unites based upon the amount of funding available.
Crisis Assistance
Under LIHEAP is the Crisis Program where assistance can be given
to families who have experienced hardship and are fixing to get
their utilities turned off. Elderly and disabled tribal members
have priority in the Crisis Assistance Program.
Social Services Program
The
United Keetoowah Band is under a 638 contract with the Bureau of
Indian Affairs to provide Social Services to exclusive tribal
members. Service availability is based on the availability of
funds. Funded exclusively by the BIA, the Social Services Program
offers General Assistance, Disaster Assistance, Emergency
Assistance, and Emergency Childcare Assistance. Families who
qualify for this assistance must have little or no income. The
total household income will be deducted from the assistance
amount.
General Assistance
The
General Assistance Program can assist families with the basic
needs of living. Clients of this program must be unable to work
due to medical reasons, or be unemployed and actively seeking
employment. Applicants must concurrently seek assistance from
other agencies. The objective of the General Assistance Program is
to increase self-sufficiency among tribal members.
Burial Assistance
The
Burial Assistance Program assists with the burial expense of
exclusive tribal members. This assistance will assist only in
cases where no other comparable sources are available to assist.
Assistance amounts will be computed by deducting the household
income from the base payment standard. Family members must
complete the application and submit it to the Social Services
Program within 30 days of the death.
Disaster Assistance
The
Disaster Assistance Program is designed to assist tribal
communities in the aftermath of a disaster. Disaster Assistance
requires a tribal resolution, by the tribal council, requesting
assistance after a natural disaster. This assistance can be
provided in the absence of other State or Federal assistance. This
program assists with the the clean-up and rebuilding of native
communities. Applications for this assistance must be submitted to
the Social Serives office within thirty (3) days of the disaster.
All assistance through this program must be approved by the
Assistant Secretary of the interior. The Assistant Secretary of
the Interior will either approve or deny the request and determine
the amount of assistance to be allocated. This program also
requires a declaration of disaster from the County, State, or
President of the United States.
Emergency Assistance
Emergency Assistance is available to individuals or families who
suffer from a burnout, flood, or other destruction of their home
and loss or damage to personal possessions. The Head of Household
must be an exclusive member of the United Keetoowah Band. The
Emergency Assistance Program will make payments only for essential
needs and other non-medical neccessities. Funding will be based on
the number of Exclusive Keetoowah Members in the household.
Household income will be deducted from the base payment amount.
Emergency Childcare
The
Emergency Child Care Assistance Program is available in emergency
situations only. Under this program, both applicant and child(ren)
must be enrolled exclusively in the United Keetoowah Band. This
program provides compensation for the temporary placement of a
Keetoowah child in the event of emergency situations where the
parent is unable to care for the child due to medical status of
the parent. The Social Services Office may purchase or contract
for room and board in a licensed residential care facility.
Motor Fuels
The Motor Fuels
Program is funded fully by a payment from the state for tax on
motor fuels. The United Keetoowah Band uses the motor fuels
revenues to fund programs for exclusive tribal members. These
programs include Vision, Motor Fuels for Medical Travel, Lodging
Assistance for Medical Situations, Medication Assistance, MEdical
Assistance, and Insurance Co-Pay Assistance. These programs are
all contingent on availability of funds.
Vision
The vision program
assists with the purchase of eye glasses or contact lenses.
Exclusive tribal members can receive assistance from this program
once every two Fiscal years. The amount of assistance is not to
exceed $150.00 for glasses and no more than $100.00 for contact
lenses.
Motor Fuels for Medical
Travel
The Motor Fuels for
Medical Travel program is available for exclusive tribal members
needing assistance for travel to and from medical appointments.
Travel distance must be at least 25 miles from place of residence.
The assistance amount is not to exceed $50.00. This program is
limited to 1 visit per Fiscal year. A statement from the physician
is required prior to the approval of assistance.
Lodging
Assistance for Medical Situations
The Lodging
Assistance for Medical Situations program is available for
exclusive tribal members needing assistance for lodging during
extended medical situations. Travel distance must be at least 25
miles from place of residence. The assistance amount is not to
exceed $100.00. This program is limited to 1 visit per Fiscal
year. A statement from the physician or institution is required
prior to the approval of assistance.
Medication Assistance
The United
Keetoowah Band assists with the purchase of medication for
exclusive tribal members. The applicant must provide a current
prescription and estimated cost statement from a licensed
pharmacy. The Medication Assistance Program will provide
assistance two times per Fiscal Year. The assistance amount is not
to exceed $50.00 per visit.
Medical Assistance
The United
Keetoowah Band Medical Assistance Program will provide assistance
one time per Fiscal year. Services covered include payment on a
Doctors Bill, Hospital Bill, or Ambulance Bill. Once applicant has
received assistance for the other two services. The bill must be
current and the United Keetoowah Band will not make multiple
payments on the same account, regardless of Fiscal year. The bill
must be in the name of the applicant. Medical Assistance shall not
exceed $300.00.
Insurance Co-Pay Assistance
The United
Keetoowah Band can assist with insurance co-pay for exclusive
members of the United Keetoowah Band. The co-pay amount is not to
exceed $600.00 and may be received only once per Fiscal year.
Tribal General Assistance
The Tribal General
Assistance Program is funded wholly by the revenues from the
United Keetoowah Band's gaming operations. The program is designed
to assist exclusive tribal members in times of hardship.
Hardship Assistance
Assistance offered
by the General Assistance program is limited to natural gas,
water, electricity and propane in the winter months. The applicant
must be an exclusive member of the United Keetoowah Band and the
bill must be in the applicant's name. The General Assistance
Program allows two (2) visits per Fiscal year and limits the
amount per visit to $200.00 or less. Under the Tribal General
Assistance program, bills for multiple months will be treated as
multiple visits. One month equals one visit. Bills for two months
equal two visits. The United Keetoowah Band General Assistance
program does not cover re-connect fees. This service is contingent
on availability of funds. |