February 21, 2014
Phone: 815-987-5711
E-mail: owen.carter@rockfordil.gov
Community Action Agency
2014 Scholarship Applications Available
ROCKFORD – Applications are now available for the 2014 Scholarship Program sponsored by the City of Rockford Human Services Department, A Community Action Agency. Applicants must have household income below 125% of the federal poverty level, reside in Winnebago or Boone County, and plan on attending a post secondary accredited school or training program located in the state of Illinois in the fall of 2014. There is no age requirement. The average scholarship award is $1,000 with multiple awards available. The financial assistance is paid directly to the institution for direct costs of tuition and textbooks.
Applications, which include more detailed eligibility information, are available on the City of Rockford website at www.rockfordil.gov/human-services.aspx under Community and Neighborhood Programs/Community Action tab, or at the office of the City of Rockford Human Services Department, at 555 N. Court St., Suite 301. Completed applications and supporting documents must be received at this office no later than 4:00pm, Friday, March 28th, 2014. Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.
The scholarships are funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity through the Community Services Block Grant.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Community Action Agency 2014 Scholarship Available
Friday, February 21, 2014
Com Ed Partners with Community Action to Offer Extra Help with Electric Bills
Com Ed Partners with Community Action to Offer Extra Help with Electric Bills
In response to concerns regarding higher than usual electric bills during this extreme winter, Com Ed is announcing temporary changes to their Residential Special Hardship program to help their customers in Winnebago and Boone counties manage their bills. Effective immediately, income eligible households applying for assistance under this program will NOT be required to provide proof of additional hardship such as job loss, documented illness, military deployment, or senior or disability hardships. This temporary change will remain in effect until April 1, 2014 unless otherwise notified. Residents applying are not eligible if they have received assistance through the Residential Special Hardship program within the last two years. LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) recipients are eligible to apply. The available grant amount remains up to $1,500 per household.
Com Ed partners with the City of Rockford Human Services Department, a Community Action Agency, to provide this service. For application requirements and to make an appointment for assistance, call the City of Rockford Human Services Department at 815-967-6237.
###
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Applications being accepted for lead mitigation in Winnebago, Boone County houses - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL
ROCKFORD — The “Creating Lead Safe Rockford” program is accepting applications for residents interested in lead mitigation for their homes.Households in the CLSR program receive a full lead-based paint inspection and risk assessment of their home. Properties with lead hazards will be eligible for reduction work that includes painting, window and door replacement, or specialized cleaning.For information or an application: 815-720-4112, wchd.org/contentPage.asp?pgID=894
Friday, January 24, 2014
LIHEAP Energy Assistance
DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAVE HEATING PROBLEMS? If so, please read about the LIHEAP and emergency heating programs from the Community Action Agency of Boone & Winnebago Counties.
Community Action Agencies across the State are reporting that propane suppliers are either running short or have increased their prices dramatically. Some agencies are reporting that their vouchers are no longer being accepted and suppliers are only delivering for cash up front. We haven’t seen this issue yet locally that we are aware. If you have constituents that are having this issue please let me know.
We still have LIHEAP funds available. I’ve attached the outreach sites. If people are disconnected, they do not need an appointment, they can walk into our office. The list of what people need for an appointment is part of the attachment.
The Emergency Furnace program operates through March. If you have home owner constituents with a non-working or non-heat producing furnace, they can come to our office as a walk-in or they can call 815-962-5019.
We are still accepting Weatherization applications. Interested constituents should call 815-962-5019.
Jennifer Jaeger, Community Services Director| Community Action Agency
A Division of the City of Rockford Human Services Department
| phone: 815.987.8047 | fax: 815-987-8046 | email: Jennifer.Jaeger@rockfordil.gov
Si usted tiene preguntas o necesita ayuda en espanol, por favor comunicase con Patricia Ortiz al 815-987-5711 ext. 2224
Here are more details concerning heating and weatherization programs.
Application sites vary with the benefit sought. A summary of the sites for applying for each benefit is shown below.
CLICK ON THE PHOTOCOPY TO ENLARGE
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Rockford may dissolve department in stimulus audit aftermath - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
Items highlighted in yellow are programs also administered by the department for Boone County.
The department provides emergency housing and administers the energy and electricity assistance program better known as LIHEAP. It organizes advocacy groups for the poor and is heavily involved in the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness. The bulk of department is made up of the Head Start program,
Under the proposal, all the housing, energy and community services programs run by Human Services would still be offered, but through the city’s Community Development Department. George Davis, director of Human Services, would stay on as the lead of a new division that would handle the programs.
By merging Human Services into the community development department, the city could consolidate some programs and eliminate some positions, the report said, although how many is unclear.
Davis would work with other department heads to pick the staff of the new division and determine how many employees it would need.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Rockford stimulus money went for paintball, movie tickets - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
More on the $600,000 which the feds want returned. See also:
Mayor Larry Morrissey has called for a review of how city employees document and monitor reporting requirements when issuing grant or stimulus money to vendors and nonprofits.
The review is expected to be complete in two weeks.
Nearly half of the funding in question went to the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.
The council received $100,000, which was spent on staff salaries, according to the audit report. But RAEDC didn’t document exactly how the money had been spent toward stimulus goals — job creation or help for the poor.
George Davis, Rockford’s director of human services, said the city required RAEDC to provide the same documentation it does for other federal grants.
“As an economic development organization, (RAEDC) is categorically eligible for this funding,” Davis said. “When we funded them, it was reviewed and approved by the state.”….
“It’s not a case where we had explicit guidelines or instructions and didn’t follow them,” Davis said. “We had no unique guidelines.”
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Feds want Rockford to give back $205K in stimulus money - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
Auditors determined that Rockford and the state didn't have "adequate levels of review" in place to make sure the money was properly spent. In addition to the missing receipts, auditors found that another $141,796 may have been spent on costs that were unallowable in the terms of the stimulus grant.
Auditors recommend that the state:
- Return to the federal government unallowable costs totaling $205,296
- Work with Rockford to determine what portion of the $141,796 is allowable and refund to the federal government any amount determined to be unallowable
- Ensure that Rockford revises its policies and procedures regarding the adequate documentation of all costs charged under federal awards and the charging of costs during the award period
- Ensure that Rockford revises its monitoring procedures to ensure that costs charged to federal awards, including subcontractor costs, are in compliance with applicable Federal requirements.
Click on the following for more details: Feds want Rockford to give back $205K in stimulus money - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
Is there a Community Action Agency for Boone County?
YES—Community Action Agency for Boone and Winnebago Counties. Its office is located at
The following is take from: http://www.rockfordil.gov/human-services/community-neighborhood-programs/community-action-programs.aspx Go to this website for more information.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Rockford's SWEEP helps elderly, low-income residents with upkeep - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
Old Story from 2011—which may be occurring again this summer
The SWEEP program is eligible to low-income residents of Winnebago and Boone counties, though most tend to live in Rockford, said program coordinator Annie Hobson
It’s not only a help to the homeowners, Hobson said. The program employs low-income young people looking for summer work. The workers, who are required to have high school diplomas or GEDs, do field work Monday through Thursday and then receive educational training on Fridays….
Iven Love, 21, who has worked in the program since it was started, is one of four people on the crew this summer.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Area community garden applications available today - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
WINNEBAGO COUNTY — Applications for participation in the Community Action Gardens program for Winnebago and Boone counties are available.
Interested parties must attend one of the following free meetings: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 19 at City Plaza, 555 N. Church St., Rockford, or 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at Boone County Conservation District, 603 N. Appleton Road, Belvidere.
The program offers residents the opportunity to create neighborhood gardens. The meetings will cover topics including program basics, available financial assistance and gardening education.
For information: 815-967-4034, cyndie.hall@rockfordil.gov.