Gleamns Human Resources Commission Inc.

Community Service Block Grant

(CSBG)

Columbus M. Stephens

CSBG Director

cstephens@gleamnshrc.org

Jan Owens

Asst. CSBG Director

jowens@gleamnshrc.org

Locations

The federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 created the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Program. It provides a range of services designed to assist low-income people to attain the skills, knowledge, and motivation necessary to achieve self-sufficiency. 

The federal grant program permits a wide range of local program activities to assist low-income participants in employment, education, better use of available income, housing, emergency assistance, nutrition, community involvement, and referral and income management.

The goal of the Community Service Block (CSBG) program is to reduce and/or prevent poverty through community-based educational activities, which lead to a greater degree of self-sufficiency on the part of low-income persons.

CSBG programs are provided through the state’s Office of Economic Opportunity.   State Office of Economic Opportunity has used these funds over the past several years to “Promote maximum participation by poor people in the elimination and causes and conditions of poverty.” Funds have been used for General Emergency Assistance, Partnership and Counseling, Rural Emergency Housing Assistance, Community Food and Nutrition, LIHEAP Support-Cooling and Heating, and Direct Energy Assistance.

Availability of Funds

MISSION

GLEAMNS Community Service Block Grant Programs have as their mission to provide opportunities through a variety of programs for low-income persons to work toward self-sufficiency and build positive self-esteem.

Program Activities Include:  

*General Emergency Assistance Program (GEAP)

Basic help with survival needs (Shelter, medicine, repairs to heating devices, and cooling devices when medically necessary.

*ROMA CASE MANAGEMENT COUNSELING FOR SURVIVAL AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY

Counseling welfare customers and others in the area of education, health, nutrition, and budgeting. The program utilizes scriptograpahic brochures on a variety of subjects. The ROMA Case Management Program will devise a plan to assist the customer in working toward survival skills and achieving self-sufficiency.

*Rural Emergency Housing Assistance Project (RE-HAP)

Place homeless individuals in a stable living environment.

*Community Food and Nutrition Project (CF&N)

Provide low-income persons in the six county areas of the Upper Savannah and Newberry County with information on good nutrition, healthy dietary practices and food purchases.

*LIHEAP Heating Project

Vouchers for heating are provided for low-income persons on an emergency-heating situation brought on by job layoffs, plant closings and severe weather conditions.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally –funded program to help eligible low-income households meet home heating and/or cooling needs.

The LIHEAP FY 2006 program is from January 1, 2006 through December 30, 2006.

**Monies for this program have not yet been received; therefore applications cannot be taken until monies are received.

If someone is having trouble paying for heat during the winter season, GLEAMNS (Greenwood, Laurens, Edgefield, Abbeville, McCormick, Newberry and Saluda) may be able to provide them with some relief.

Eligibility and benefits for the heating assistance program are determined by gross household income (total income of the household, all wages or salary before deductions), number of household members, and vulnerability to heating costs. Eligibility for heating assistance usually can be determined during one appointment. Documentation needed at the time of application is: Total gross household income, social security cards of all household members, Identification Card of person applying for assistance, a copy of your most recent utility bill and the final notice or termination of service notice..

*LIHEAP Cooling Project

 Voucher payments are made where utility service has been terminated in a household where air conditioning is necessary for medical reasons and the purchase of air conditioners.

2005 Poverty Income Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia
(AMOUNTS SHOWN ARE COMPUTED AT 150% OF POVERTY GUIDELINES)
FAMILY SIZE	MONTHLY POVERTY GUIDELINE
1	$1,196
2	$1,604
3	$2,011
4	$2,419
5	$2,826
6	$3,234
7	$3,641
8	$4,049

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: FOR FAMILY UNITS WITH MORE THAN 8 MEMBERS, ADD $408 TO THE MONTHLY AMOUNT FOR EACH ADDITIONAL MEMBER.

*Direct Energy Assistance Project

Applications are taken year round. Applications are processed in each satellite office. A voucher is given for power or fuel to applicants. Applicants use the voucher to pay for fuel or on their power bill.

*Youth Leadership Program

The Youth Leadership program is designed to provide resources that will enhance character building and life long learning skills, encourage students to practice leadership dynamics, and study lessons in character that foster group discussions centered on building leadership skills.

The program is available to 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students who exhibit leadership potential. This program is funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity in the Governor's Office.

A High rate of dropouts among high school students in Greenwood District 50, failure of schools to identify leadership potentials of students coming from low-income families.

Character education training external of the school environment where students can engage in free expression without fear. Youth Leadership will provide needed services to the families of those enrolled in the program.

Family members of children enrolled in Youth Leadership have access to Case Management and assistance to help improve their potential by completing GED and diploma programs to obtain better jobs with higher wages.

Family Size	Annual Poverty Guidelines	Monthly poverty Guideline
1	$11,963	$997
2	$16,038	$1,336
3	$20,113	$1,676
4	$24,188	$2,016
5	$28,263	$2,355
6	$32,338	$2,695
7	$36,413	$3,034
8	$40,488	$3,374

INTRODUCTION

The goal of the Community Services Block Grant Program is to support efforts in identifying and ameliorating or eliminating the causes of poverty and to help solve problems, which block the achievement of economic self-sufficiency.  CSBG funds are used to provide services such as employment referrals, education, financial counseling on better use of available income, emergency assistance, housing, and nutrition to families in our seven county area.  CSBG Case managers assist families to transition out of poverty by providing information and referral, consultation, counseling, and follow-up visits.  The CSBG funds enable GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission, Inc. and the CSBG Department to support the centralized system of management that includes the Governing Board of Directors, administrative personnel, fiscal management and computerized accounting, and client tracking. 

 GLEAMNS has been able to utilize the CSBG funds to assist in the development of linkages with other agencies to bring about institutional change in order to better serve the clients and the communities.  Agencies that participate in this effort are city and county governments, local housing authorities, Mental Health, Social Security, Council of Governments, Job Training Programs, Council on Aging, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Department of Human Services, Public Health and local health services, schools, colleges, churches, utility companies, United Way groups, Area Agencies on Aging, and other local interested groups and organizations.   Services are available through the GLEAMNS Main Office (Brewer) and outlining counties.