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Catawba County DSS Funds

ECCCM (Service Provider) distributes Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) and General Assistance (GA) funds to qualifying Catawba County residents on behalf of the Catawba County Department of Social Services. Funding levels are dependent upon Catawba County DSS.

Applications are taken Monday through Thursday, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

For more information on arriving at ECCCM click here.

You can make your application for DSS fund assistance through an online application. Download the required forms here. Print the form, fill it out completely and sign it. You will be asked to upload this document during the online application process.

APPLICANTS Please note!

  • You MUST download the appropriate CIP or LIEAP application

  • Then print the form, fill out completely, and sign.

  • Then, during the online application accessed through the appropriate scheduler button, you will be asked to upload the signed application.

  • Your application cannot proceed if you do not complete this process.

Download CIP Application Here
Download LIEAP Application Here
Download Spanish Forms Here

THE state of NC changed how CIP and LiEAP applications are Processed.
Apply through the state epass website below:

Apply Online

ECCCM will process your application. You may also apply in person at ECCCM

Low Income Energy Assistance Program

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program gives families a one-time vendor payment to help pay their heating bills. Priority in eligibility is given to disabled persons receiving services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services or households containing a person age 60 and older from December 1st through December 31st.

Applications for all other households will be taken January 1st through March 31st or until all funds are exhausted.

Scheduling calendar is inactive during non-application periods

Eligibility Guidelines

Household must meet ALL of these factors:

  • Effective October 1, 2019, proof of income is required;

  • Household must meet income limits for the program;

  • Household must be responsible for its heating bills;

  • Household cannot have resources over $2,250.00;

  • Household must include a U.S. Citizen or an eligible alien; and

  • You must apply in the county in which you reside.

Basic Information Needed

  1. Information about your household’s income. If anyone works – bring all wage stubs for the month prior to the month you come to apply;
  2. Information about your household’s bank account (savings or checking accounts);
  3. Information about your household’s property, stocks, bonds, and other assets;
  4. Name, date of birth, and social security numbers, of each household member;
  5. Picture ID;
  6. Copy of utility bill.

Crisis Intervention Program

The Crisis Intervention Program serves households who are experiencing a heating or cooling related crisis. If you have a disconnect notice for your heating/cooling, or are in need of fuel oil, there maybe help available through CIP.

Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) is an income eligible program that assists households with their heating/cooling needs to avoid a crisis situation. You must have a past due bill, or are in need of fuel oil, be able to verify the crisis and be unable to pay the bill.

Qualifying guidelines for CIP also consider medical risk, age of residents, and certain situations associated with excessively high/low temperature in the home.

Basic information needed:

  • Effective October 1, 2019, proof of income is required for the past thirty (30) days;

  • Household must meet income limits for the program;

  • Past Due bill for your cooling or heating;

  • Picture ID;

  • Social Security number or card for everyone in the household;

  • Income and resource verification/information for everyone in the household;

  • Apply in the county in which you live;

  • In Catawba County, apply at Eastern Catawba Cooperative Christian Ministry, Inc.; and

  • Have not exceeded the maximum limit for assistance with the CIP funds.

Full Assessment Information Here

general assistance fund

The General Assistance Fund is designed to help qualifying applicants receive assistance with deposits. In order to qualify, applicants must follow the following guidelines.

  1. Clients will present all bills, expenses and income statements as required by Service Provider.
  2. A landlord (vendor) must be on Service Provider’s approved vendor list in order to receive payment.
  3. Clients would then qualify according to Service Provider’s financial criteria that looks for financial abuses rendering an application to be a non-crisis event. (Clarification: exempt items, i.e. excessive cable bills, beauticians)
  4. Service Provider’s case manager would determine next steps of the client’s financial control from this point forward, that basic housing costs (rent and utilities) can and will be paid.
  5. As deposits become property of the client, and can be regained when moving from a residence, a client can only receive deposit assistance once in a lifetime. Exceptions would include events of fire or flood, unsafe structure, or another event beyond the client’s control that may force them to move.
  6. Other Service Provider funds may or may not be utilized to fulfill the deposit or first month’s rent, depending on need as deemed appropriate by a case manager.

 

Schedule General Assistance appointment