HHS increases total LIHEAP funding available to help low-income families to $3.9 billion

Georgia's allocation will be $86,178,083.

Today U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of additional funding to help eligible low-income families meet their home energy needs, bringing the total made available since October 1 to $3.9 billion. These funds will go to states, tribes and territories under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and are available under the terms of the latest continuing resolution.

"Much of the country has already experienced a very cold winter," said Secretary Sebelius. "Today's additional funds will help struggling families keep safe and warm for the remainder of the season."

LIHEAP assists qualified families with their home energy needs such as heating in the winter, cooling their homes in the summer, and insulating their homes to make them more energy efficient and reduce their energy costs. By doing so, families are less likely to have to choose between paying their energy bills and other necessities, such as food or medicine. Energy assistance can reduce illness or the risk of fires that can break out when households turn to using candles or space heaters because they cannot pay their electricity or gas bill.

The block grant funds released today supplement two previous releases of funds under continuing resolutions in Fiscal Year 2011.

"As temperatures drop, heating costs can pose a serious challenge for struggling families," said David A. Hansell, HHS acting assistant secretary for children and families. "At the start of a new year, these additional LIHEAP funds will help ease the financial burdens for many families."

A complete list of funds available to states today is below:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2011/liheap_allocation.html

Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact their local/state LIHEAP agency. For more information, go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/ or http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/brochure/brochure.html.

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DHS energy assistance program helps Georgians with their home heating bills

As the colder winter months approach, the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) will once again help Georgians struggling to keep up with the cost of heating their homes.

The agency’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will receive approximately $65.4 million dollars in federal funds, under the continuing resolution limitation, to assist low-income, elderly and disabled Georgians with their heating bills.

On November 2, 2009, local community action agencies began administering all available funds under state contracts, and homebound and elderly (aged 65 and older) households were able to begin applying for help.

All other eligible families may apply starting December 1, 2009. In most cases, payments will be made directly to the home energy supplier for gas, electricity, propane gas, wood, coal or kerosene. Qualifying applicants will receive payments of either $310 or $350.

To participate in the program, the family must meet a yearly income equal to or less than 60 percent of the state median income. For a one-person household, that would be $21,458; for two people, $28,061; for three people, $34,663; for four people, $41,266; for five people, $47,868; for six people, $54,471, for seven people, $55,709; for eight people, $56,947 (for each additional person, add $1,238 to annual income).

To qualify, applicants must bring their most recent fuel bill or statement of service from their heating provider. They also must have proof of income for all household members for the last 30 days. This may be paycheck stubs, a letter granting public assistance, Social Security or unemployment benefits. Applicants must also have social security numbers for all household members. Verification of age will be required for all elderly households.

Assistance will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The program will close April 30, 2010, or when funds are exhausted.

For more information, contact the Division of Family and Children Services, Community Based Programs in metro Atlanta, by calling 404-656-2323 or toll free at 1-800-869-1150.

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Georgia Site Helps Flood Victims

Victims of this week’s flooding can turn to www.georgiadisaster.info for assistance in dealing with the emotional, mental and physical toll of the catastrophe.

One of the most comprehensive of its kind in the nation, the site links to a wide range of organizations including the American Red Cross, Centers for Disease Control and Georgia911.org and is available in Spanish.

Georgiadisaster.info is designed and maintained by University of West Georgia faculty, staff and graduate students and is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Human Resources using federal funds from the Community Health Preparedness Program.

In addition to meeting the needs of the general public, www.georgiadisaster.info offers resources and information for veterans and military families, schools, persons with disabilities and the elderly.

The website has nearly 3,000 links to weather radar, coping and recovery strategies, a disaster plan and many other resources.

For more information, go to www.georgiadisaster.info.

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Web Site and Toll-free Line Will Help Unemployed Workers Appeal Denials of COBRA Premium Assistance Under Recovery Act

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a new Web site (www.ContinuationCoverage.net) and helpline (1-866-400-6689) where certain unemployed workers may request expedited review of a denial by their former employers of eligibility for COBRA premium assistance under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
(ARRA).

CMS has contracted with MAXIMUS Federal Services, Inc., a subsidiary of MAXIMUS, Inc., to review requests for expedited review of denials and make recommendations - subject to CMS's review - on whether individuals are eligible for health insurance premium assistance under the Recovery Act's expansion of COBRA continuation coverage. Maximus will also answer questions about the premium assistance program and the expedited review process. Contact information for the Web site and helpline is provided below.

To help displaced workers maintain health care coverage for themselves and their families, the Recovery Act provides a 65 percent subsidy for health insurance premiums for workers who have elected COBRA after they have been involuntarily terminated from their jobs. "COBRA coverage" generally refers to the continuation of coverage provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), which apply to employers with twenty or more employees. The ARRA-established subsidy is also available to eligible Federal, state, and local government employees, and, if state law requires certain continuation coverage, to workers for private sector employers with fewer than twenty employees.

The Recovery Act's premium assistance applies to periods of continuation coverage beginning on or after February 17, 2009 (when ARRA became law), and lasts for up to nine months.

To qualify for premium assistance, a worker must be involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009, and elect continuation coverage. The subsidy ends when the worker is offered any new employer-sponsored health care coverage or becomes eligible for Medicare. Workers who were involuntarily terminated between September 1, 2008, and February 16, 2009, but who failed to elect COBRA coverage at that time, most likely because it was unaffordable, or who elected COBRA after September 1, 2008, but let it drop because it was unaffordable, would be given an additional 60 days after employer notifications are released to elect COBRA and receive the subsidy. Depending on actions taken by their states, individuals with state continuation coverage may also be eligible for this additional election period. To ensure that the premium assistance is targeted at workers who are most in need, the subsidy generally will be available only to people whose income does not exceed $125,000 for individuals ($250,000 for families).

When an individual's former group health plan denies access to ARRA's premium assistance, he or she may request an expedited review of the denial. Under the law, CMS handles requests for review for all Federal government employees, employees of state and local governments, and
those individuals covered by certain state continuation coverage laws (sometimes called "mini-COBRA" programs) that apply to employers with fewer than 20 employees. Decisions on appeals will be made within 15 business days after receipt.

For more information, visit www.ContinuationCoverage.net. For the toll-free helpline, which is available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, dial 1-866-400-6689. (TTY: 1-866-631-5610). When appropriate, MAXIMUS Federal Services will direct callers to the Department of Labor
(DOL), which handles COBRA cases involving private employers with 20 or more employees. DOL may be reached directly at 1-866-444-3272. DOL's help site may be accessed at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html.

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Homeowners Can Cut Federal Income Taxes Up to $1,500 and Reduce Home Energy Bills With Energy Efficiency Tax Credits

/PRNewswire/ -- The Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP) urges U.S. homeowners to enjoy the "triple crown" of energy efficiency -- lower home energy bills, lower federal income taxes, and increased home comfort -- by making energy efficiency home improvements that qualify for up to $1,500 in federal income tax credits.

Savvy consumers who make such energy efficiency upgrades can also be proud of reducing their personal carbon footprint -- because using less energy in their homes means emitting less pollution, too.

The federal income tax credits for specific home improvements are available now through 2010, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which extended energy efficiency tax credits available in 2006 and 2007 but not 2008.

"The ARRA tax credits are very similar to those that were in effect a few years ago and renewed for 2009 only in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TRP) last fall," said Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a TIAP founder.

"But the ARRA tax provisions include some 'new wrinkles' that are important for consumers to be aware of, so they can be sure to install the specific products and equipment that qualify for the 2009-10 tax credits. TIAP is making it easy for taxpayers to purchase eligible products by providing all the needed information on the TIAP Web site (www.energytaxincentives.org), which also includes links to other helpful sites."

"The ARRA tax credits are potentially worth three times as much as the 2006-07 tax credits, at up to $1,500," noted Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, another TIAP founder. "This more generous dollar amount puts energy- and money-saving home improvements within reach for more American homeowners. And the longer time frame, through 2010, gives homeowners more than a year to plan and budget for the more costly energy efficiency upgrades, which will then provide a terrific return on investment in lower energy costs for years to come."

Some of the important details on the home improvement tax credits are as follows:

-- For each type of qualifying equipment, the credit is for 30 percent of
the cost up to $1,500.
-- It is a one-time tax credit that can be claimed in part or in whole
for tax year 2009 and/or tax year 2010.
-- Homeowners who claimed the $500 credit available in 2006-7 can claim
the remaining $1,000 credit for additional products bought and
installed in 2009 and/or 2010.
-- There are two basic categories of qualifying equipment -- "building
envelope" products and heating and cooling equipment.
-- Building envelope products are replacement windows (including storm
windows, storm doors, and skylights), certain ENERGY STAR asphalt and
metal roofs, insulation, and other sealing products.
-- Heating and cooling equipment includes furnaces, boilers, ground
source or geothermal heat pumps, gas or propane water heaters, central
air conditioning systems (but not window air conditioner units), and
biomass stoves.
-- Installation costs are not covered for building envelope products.
-- Installation costs are covered for heating and cooling equipment.
-- For some products, the qualifying criteria are more stringent than
they were in 2006 and 2007 and in early 2009 under TARP. For example,
all ENERGY STAR windows no longer qualify; now they must meet
additional energy efficiency criteria (spelled out on the TIAP Web
site at http://energytaxincentives.org/consumers/insulation_etc.php.)
-- Specific efficiency criteria also apply to heating and cooling
equipment;
(http://energytaxincentives.org/consumers/heating-cooling.php).
-- Under TARP, the 2006-7 criteria for qualifying products were in effect
from January 1, 2009 through February 17, 2009, when the ARRA was
signed.
-- The TARP criteria, however, apply to exterior windows and skylights
purchased and put into service before June 1, 2009.
-- Homeowners who purchased and put into service equipment under the TARP
criteria between January 1 and February 17, 2009, can claim the higher
($1,500) tax credit amount.

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President Declares Major Disaster For Georgia

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) yesterday announced that federal disaster aid has been made available for the State of Georgia to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds beginning on March 26, 2009, and continuing.

Acting FEMA Administrator Nancy Ward said the assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Obama. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Echols, Lanier, Lowndes, Miller, Mitchell, Pierce, Tift, Ware, Wheeler, and Worth counties.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the severe storms, flooding, tornadoes, and straight-line winds in the counties of Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Ben Hill, Berrien, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Early, Echols, Grady, Lowndes, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Toombs, and Ware.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

Terry L. Quarles has been named as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. Quarles said that additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated counties can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.

FEMA leads and supports the nation in a risk-based, comprehensive emergency management system of preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the nation from all hazards including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.

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H.E.A.T. Provides $1.02 Million to Help Georgians Pay Heating Bills

The Heating Energy Assistance Team (H.E.A.T.), Inc., an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that provides energy assistance statewide to low-income Georgians, announced today that it has provided $1,020,649 to the Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR) to assist qualified families who are unable to pay their heating bills.

“Georgia’s low-income families live on extremely tight budgets; they often are forced to choose between buying food or medicine or heating their homes,” said H.E.A.T. Board Chairman Chris Strippelhoff. “This donation will help reach the Georgia households in most need of emergency energy assistance this winter.”

One Georgian’s story

Until January 2008, Woodstock resident Patrick Hlavaty was a full-time musician, playing and teaching piano and guitar. But a sudden diabetic seizure caused him to fall, leaving him unable to walk normally and no longer able to use his left hand to play musical instruments. He was forced to retire without enough resources to make ends meet.

At the time of the seizure, “Mr. Pat,” as he likes to be called, was the sole bread winner for his family. His wife was not able to work after having hip replacement surgery. Their only income was a small teacher’s pension and a limited amount of Social Security.

“I’ve been an independent person all my life,” Hlavaty said. “I’ve always worked. But that one day forced me to depend on other people and organizations. It bothered the heck out of me.”

Concerned about mounting energy bills, Hlavaty applied for energy assistance and received much-needed help to pay his heating bills. “I want to thank all contributors to H.E.A.T.,” he says, “because without caring people like them, anyone in my situation would not know where to turn.” Hopeful that surgery will help correct his condition, Hlavaty looks forward to playing music again in the future. “I want to be back at work and be self-sufficient again,” he says.

Qualified families can get energy assistance

H.E.A.T. funds are distributed by DHR through local community action agencies. Qualified families apply for assistance at the agency that serves their county. Households must meet established guidelines that include income eligibility. During the past 25 years, H.E.A.T. has distributed nearly $17 million to approximately 82,000 families.

The recent H.E.A.T. donation will be an important addition to federal funds available for energy assistance. “We appreciate this donation so much, “said Mark Washington, assistant DHR commissioner, Division of Family and Children Services, “because we never have enough funds available to help the tremendous number of families in need. H.E.A.T. is an important part of addressing this problem.”

Private citizens and natural gas companies made the financial contributions to H.E.A.T. that resulted in the $1.02 million distribution. Georgia Natural Gas, SCANA Energy, AGL Resources, Gas South, MXenergy, Stream Energy, Infinite Energy, and Blossman Gas all participated. In addition, some of the funds were provided to H.E.A.T. by the Georgia Public Service Commission.

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Celebrating 25 Years of Energy Assistance to Georgia Families

/PRNewswire/ -- Heating Energy Assistance Team, Inc., an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that is Georgia's oldest statewide fuel fund, recently celebrated 25 years of providing energy assistance to Georgians statewide, thanks to H.E.A.T.'s partnership with community-minded organizations like AGL Resources, Georgia Natural Gas, SCANA Energy, Gas South, the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia, and many more.

During the past 25 years, H.E.A.T. has raised nearly $17 million in energy assistance for more than 82,000 families. "It's a mighty good thing that a program like H.E.A.T. does such good work," H.E.A.T. recipient Evelyn Gregory told celebration attendees. "I've been able to get help with my heating bills at the beginning of the heating season, and I'm so grateful of that." Gregory, a widow of 10 years, lives on a fixed income and often has to choose between buying groceries and staying warm during the winter. Thousands of Georgians face that choice every year.

H.E.A.T., originally established by Atlanta Gas Light Company in 1983, has helped address the energy needs of low-income Georgians by joining forces with concerned citizens, businesses and state government. When the Georgia General Assembly deregulated the state's natural gas industry, H.E.A.T. became a separate 501 (c) (3) nonprofit tax-exempt entity in May 2000.

Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Chuck Eaton, keynote speaker at the celebration, praised H.E.A.T. and said that the best way the commission could help Georgians is by keeping the cost of heating down. "Electricity demand is growing by 1,000 megawatts a year in Georgia," he said. "Coal, nuclear and natural gas can be used to manufacture electricity, but there are pro's and con's to each of those. In 2007, 33 percent of natural gas use was for electric generation, so that caused upward pressure on prices. We have to be diversified and keep all options on the table - not just natural gas, but also coal, nuclear, biomass, solar and wind. There's no easy answer, but it's a mistake to oversimplify this problem."

During the celebration Joan Martin, wife of U.S. Senate candidate Jim Martin, spoke on his behalf, emphasizing that her husband was actively involved with H.E.A.T. beginning in January 1983. In his prepared remarks, he said, "The partnership between the Georgia Department of Human Resources, the community action agencies, the federal government, the PSC and H.E.A.T. is the envy of the nation. Federal, state, nonprofit, private individuals and business working together to assist the elderly, disabled and poor stay warm. It is simply a miracle."

H.E.A.T. staff and the board of directors, consisting of volunteer business and consumer leaders from around the state, work diligently to raise funds throughout the year. "Thousands of families cope with poverty, unemployment and high energy costs every winter," says H.E.A.T. Board Chairman Chris Strippelhoff. "With the generosity of Georgia citizens and the energy industry, H.E.A.T. has helped so many families in need - but there remains much to be done."

For more information about H.E.A.T. or to donate online, go to www.heatga.org .

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USDA Announces Amended Farm Bill Provisions and New Sign Up Deadline

Owners and operators of farms with 10 or fewer base acres now have the opportunity to receive payments for the 2008 Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment Program. On Oct. 13, 2008, President George W. Bush signed a bill that made amendments to the 2008 Farm Bill.

These amendments apply to farms with crop acreage bases of 10 acres or less. These changes and clarifications allow some producers more flexibility in farming practices and create new sign-up opportunities with new deadlines for some farms. The amendments also apply to the new Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) Program.

10-Base Acre Limit Changes

As originally enacted under the 2008 Farm Bill, direct and countercyclical payments (DCP) could not be made with respect to farms with crop acreage bases of 10 acres or less. The new law makes that provision inapplicable for the 2008 crop year. Related to this, producers on a farm with 10 acres or less of base may now, under the new law, enroll their farms until Nov. 26, 2008, in the 2008 DCP program. This extension of the original Sept. 30 deadline only applies to producers who were previously excluded because of the minimum acreage requirement. USDA began issuing payments to producers on farms with 10 base acres or less who had already enrolled in the DCP program soon after the President signed the new law.

USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) will now resume allowing reconstitutions for farms with 10 acres of base or less according to normal reconstitution rules and policy. Eligible producers may sign up for DCP at any FSA office or enroll on the FSA website at: www.fsa.usda.gov/dcp click on Access eDCP Services.

Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE) Changes

Under SURE in the 2008 Farm Bill, producers seeking disaster benefits must generally have obtained crop insurance or coverage under the Non-insured crop disaster Assistance Program (NAP) for all crops on all farms. Under the new law (P.L. 110-398), producers with crops that had 2009 crop insurance sales closing dates before Aug. 14, 2008, may pay a fee through Jan. 12, 2009, to participate in SURE. Producers may make their SURE participation fee payments to their local FSA office at this time.

The SURE program fee is equal to the fee for catastrophic coverage. Payment of the SURE program fee will not make the producer eligible for insurance coverage.

Producers also have a new minimum loss threshold under SURE. Under the new law, to qualify for payments, there must be a production loss of at least 10 percent for at least one crop of economic significance on the farm.

Under the SURE program, the new law provides that when a second crop is planted after the first crop was prevented from being planted, or if such first crop failed, the second planting will not count toward the SURE program guarantee or total farm revenue. This is true except in areas where double-cropping is a normal practice. Producers also are not required to purchase crop insurance or a NAP policy for the second crop.

By provision of the new statute, the purchase of insurance or a NAP policy for grazed acreage is no longer a requirement for the SURE program. However, such insurance is required as a condition for payment for the livestock feed program, tree assistance program and the emergency livestock, honeybees and farm-related fish programs.

In addition, the new law amends SURE eligibility so that crop insurance or NAP coverage is no longer required for crops that are not of economic significance or those where the administrative fee required to buy NAP coverage exceeds 10 percent of the value of the coverage.

Producers can contact their local FSA office for more information regarding SURE program implementation.

NAP (Non-Insured crop disaster Assistance Program) Application Deadline Changes

NAP application closing dates for the 2009 crops have been extended to Dec. 1, 2008. This extension for 2009 NAP applies to those crops having an application closing date prior to Dec. 1, 2008. This extension was authorized due to the late enactment of the 2008 Farm Bill and to accommodate those applicants wanting to participate in disaster assistance programs under the 2008 Act's Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance for their 2009 crops.

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More Than Five Billion Dollars Released Under LIHEAP

GFP Note: Georgia will receive over $80,000,000 under this program.

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the release of $5.1 billion
from the federal government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP) under the Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Resolution. The funds
will assist states, territories, tribal areas and the District of
Columbia with addressing their energy needs, particularly for the
upcoming winter season.

"The release of these funds will help low-income families stay warm this
winter," Secretary Leavitt said. "These funds will also help reduce the
risk of health and safety problems exacerbated by exposure to extreme
temperatures."

LIHEAP funding is provided to states through the Office of Community
Services in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at HHS.
The funds will assist eligible low-income households in meeting their
heating and other energy needs.

"The funds released by the Bush Administration will help our most
vulnerable citizens, including the disabled, elderly and children," said
Josephine Robinson, director, Office of Community Services at ACF.

Under the language of the Continuing Resolution, $4.5 billion in block
grant funds and $590 million contingency funds must be released by Oct.
30, 2008. Block grant funds will be allocated to states under a formula
specified in the Continuing Resolution. Of the $590 million in
contingency funds, $100 million will assist states where large numbers
of eligible households use heating oil for heat: Alaska, Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The
remaining $490 million will help individuals in all 50 states.

For a complete list of state allocations of the funds released today go
to:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2008/liheap_allocations_fy2009.htm.

Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact
their local/state/LIHEAP agency. For more information, go to
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap or
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/brochure.html.

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Down Payment Assistance Now Available for Northeast Georgia Home Buyers

PRNewswire/ -- The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia, The IMPACT! Group, The Brand Banking Company and a network of local builders are partnering to provide down payment assistance for consumers who buy a home in Northeast Georgia.

Tough economic times and the recent turmoil in the mortgage market have made it harder to secure mortgage loans. For buyers without funds for a down payment, the dream of home ownership has become even more elusive.

"This is a 'win-win' proposition. The Northeast Georgia Down Payment Assistance Program will benefit consumers who want to buy a house in our local communities. It will also strengthen the overall economic climate -- which benefits every business and every resident," explains Judy Waters, executive director, Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia.

Today's announcement comes at a critical time. The nation's largest privately funded down payment assistance program, The Nehemiah Program, will be eliminated on October 1, 2008. The Northeast Georgia Down Payment Assistance program will fill that void for area home buyers.

The Northeast Georgia Down Payment Assistance Program is not restricted to first-time home buyers and does not require repayment. This is in contrast to the recently enacted Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which offers a $7,500 tax credit to qualified first-time buyers. Those funds are then paid back over a 15-year period.

"Brand Bank has been a vital part of building our community for more than 100 years, so we're pleased to be a part of this innovative program to foster home ownership," says Bartow Morgan, Jr., CEO, Brand Bank. "We will be making market-rate mortgage loans to qualified buyers who are eager to build their home and their future in Northeast Georgia."

The IMPACT! Group, a local nonprofit community development corporation, will help provide the down payment assistance along with education and credit counseling to homebuyers who want an objective advisor to help them through the process. "Our HomeOwnership Center provides home buyers with the tools they need to achieve sustainable homeownership. We are very excited to work with Brand Bank and the Community Foundation on this innovative program," says Marina Peed, executive director, The IMPACT! Group.

For more information about The Northeast Georgia Down Payment Assistance Program, call 770-963-3044 or log on to www.thebrandbank.com and click the program link for a list of eligible homes.

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Georgia To Receive Over $1 Million to Help Low-Income Households with Energy Costs

GFP Note: Georgia will receive $1,028,059 to assist eligible low-income households meet energy costs.

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced September 17th the release of $121 million in energy assistance to help eligible low-income households meet home energy costs. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds are expected to provide states with heating assistance for the winter months ahead.

“The release of these funds will address the energy emergencies low-income families face during the upcoming cold winter months,” Secretary Leavitt said.

Of the $121 million, $96 million will go to help individuals heat or cool their homes in all 50 states, territories, tribal areas and the District of Columbia. An additional $25 million under LIHEAP will assist the following states identified as having large numbers of eligible households that use oil to heat their homes: Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

“This assistance with home heating costs will help ensure the safety of

those individuals most in need, including children, the elderly and the disabled,” said Daniel Schneider, acting assistant secretary for the Administration for Children and Families.

The funds released today bring the total delivered under LIHEAP to approximately $2.59 billion this fiscal year.

Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact their local/state/ LIHEAP agency. For more information, click here.

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