The Beaufort-Jasper Economic Opportunity Commission provides low-income residents of both counties with outreach, financial aid, and referral services to help them access the services that are available to them. This agency tries to have staff that know a lot about social services to help people that need help with those services. This can be difficult and take a lot of time. The agency can also provide its own forms of financial assistance.
Some services that are available in this region are: The agency can provide information about programs that can help residents. The Senior and Disabled Outreach Program provides services to vulnerable individuals who are seniors or have a disability. Home visits and referrals help clients live independently in a safe and healthy environment. There are also food, housing, and applications to government aid arranged across South Carolina.
Emergency and financial assistance programs
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Weatherization Services may be available in certain counties in the Jasper and Beaufort area, depending on if there are any funds remaining. This program provides financial assistance to qualifying applicants once per year to help offset increasing costs of home heating energy. There are also free conservation measures available to help protect the environment.
Though often an overlooked area of need, Weatherization is a critical program serving low-income, disabled, and seniors in South Carolina. This program helps to make sure that these individuals have a warm place to live during the winter and a cool place to live during the summer. The government provides grants to low-income earners to make their homes more energy efficient and improve their health and safety. This reduces the amount they have to spend on heating and cooling their home.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides eligible households with help in paying their energy bills. LIHEAP offers cash grants or credit on utility bills. The focus is on maintaining a comfortable temperature indoors during winter, or keeping the lights and appliances running during summer. If you need help with the application process for government assistance programs in South Carolina, you can contact a case worker at the Beaufort-Jasper Economic Opportunity Commission.
The Beaufort-Jasper Economic Opportunity Commission seeks to improve the lives of low-income residents and the working poor in the area. They do this by advocating for them and providing various services and programs. They may also offer referrals to direct financial aid, which they often get through partnerships with other agencies, like the United Way. This can include everything from help with paying rent to vouchers for prescription medication.
The community action agency has programs that can help with things like utility rates and affordable housing. Some of the key clients that low income families or those on Medicaid seek medical care from are requesting vision or affordable dental care for Medicaid recipients. Some people need help with water bills or food to prevent hunger.
Case managers help connect people with government benefits that they may be eligible for. The organization will be working with individuals who regularly experience these issues, and guide them to sources of funding that can assist with expenses such as bills or rent.
There are other hunger prevention programs available, in addition to referrals to local food pantries. They can provide assistance to income qualified clients in a variety of situations and needs. Some food assistance programs are run by the government, like SNAP food stamps, and others are administered by charities.
The Summer Food Service Program provides free meals to children during the summer months, when school is not in session and free school lunches are not available. The program is available to children from one to 18 years of age. The school lunch program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and the State of South Carolina Department of Education’s Division of School and Community Nutrition. Food is served to children at various locations throughout Beaufort and Jasper counties.
Education and employment support from Beaufort-Jasper (EOC)
The Head Start Program in South Carolina is excellent and has been recognized by the federal government with the Certificate of Excellence Award. This gives children the help they need. The Head Start service is a free, high-quality program that provides educational and nutritional services to preschool-aged children and their families.
Parents who are trying to meet individual and family partnership agreements are offered the following.
The community action agency can help you with your job search, and also offer classes in subjects like GED and ESL. They can also help with financial literacy, debt reduction, and health and wellness services. You may also be able to volunteer with the program.
Fathers who are part of the Head Start program, as well as single mothers, are encouraged by the Beaufort-Jasper Economic Opportunity Commission to participate in trainings. These trainings provide them with tools they can use to have a greater level of engagement with their children, whether they share a home with them or not. There is also assistance for parents who do not speak English. This program provides people with the chance to study English, which can help them get jobs and improve their lives.
The EOC runs a workforce development program that has job-readiness workshops for residents of Beaufort and Jasper County. These workshops are held on a regular schedule. The workshops include mock interviews to help participants gain the confidence needed to secure employment. The clients work with a counselor to help them with their job skills, resume, and how to interview for a job.
This means that every time someone updates their resume, they will also get a copy of the update on their computer or phone. People can use the internet for free at local computers. This will give them the ability to print out their job applications or resumes when they need to. When the workshop is finished, participants are sent to the Beaufort County job placement program to start looking for a job in the area.
For more information on resources from Beaufort-Jasper Economic Opportunity (EOC), please visit their main office at 1905 Duke Street, Beaufort, SC 29901-0009. Contact (843) 255-7223 for referrals.