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Utility Assistance

CCS utilizes funding to provide assistance to low-income households, or households experiencing a temporary crisis, toward their utility needs.


Financial assistance is offered to those in greatest immediate crisis. A disconnect notice or warning is required before assistance can be provided. NIPSCO Matching Funds and NIPSCO Winter Warmth funds cannot be used unless there is a disconnect notice in accordance with NIPSCO guidelines. LP guidelines require the LP tank be at or below 10%. Our guidelines for financial assistance are the 150% of Poverty Guidelines or Hardship Determination, which covers a vast array of crisis situations, from loss of job to an automobile accident that renders people unable to make their usual payments.

Utility Assistance Available for the following:

 

  • NIPSCO
  • REMC
  • LP Fuel
  • Wood (Oct-March)  Due to a change in city ordinances, wood vouchers will only be available to those living in the city limits of Warsaw.

If you have extra wood available for clients to keep warm with, please call CCS Emergency Assistance at 269.6019 ext. 22 and speak with Peggi to donate!

NIPSCO Programs

 

Through a partnership with NIPSCO, Emergency Assistance can maximize funding to assist low-income households with their winter heating bills. Through the NIPSCO Matching Funds/Gift of Warmth program, NIPSCO will match each dollar that CCS Emergency Assistance uses to assist a household. The "Gift of Warmth" program gets support through the annual Gift of Warmth mailing, donations for Matching Funds to the Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association, and from individual donors.

NIPSCO Winter Warmth funds are also disbursed through Emergency Assistance. Deposit funds for the gas portion of utility deposits are available as well as funds toward utility disconnects. These funds will also pay toward "old" bills that keep you from getting NIPSCO in your name.These funds can be utilized one time per client account during the Winter Warmth season (December through April).

A hand up, not a hand out!

In most situations, financial assistance is the tip of the iceberg that has brought people to our door. By offering a "hand up, instead of a hand out", we are able to meet more needs of people and offer solutions that lead to self sufficiency.

Emergency Assistance works with households to utilize a budget plan to help them better plan their household bills each month. We have several tips for conserving energy and weatherizing your home available in our lobby.  If you do not see a copy, please ask for one!