Berkshire Community Action Agency Council provides help and referrals to low income families, including those at risk such as seniors or the disabled. The agency provides both financial assistance in times of need and services to help manage individual cases.
The LIHEAP – Fuel Assistance program is an option for people who need help paying for heat during the colder fall and winter months. The program provides assistance to eligible low-income families to help pay their natural gas or heating bills. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded program that helps low-income households pay for their home energy bills. LIHEAP can help you with heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer.
The Berkshire Community Action Council can help you with applications for heating assistance, no matter what kind of heating source you have. This includes heating oil, propane, kerosene, cord wood, natural gas, wood pellets, and electricity. Some apartments that have heating costs included in the rent may still be eligible for grants.
Only the amount of heat actually used during the selected time period can be covered by help paying for fuel and energy costs. If your monthly bill is less than your federal government benefit amount, then the community action agency will only pay the utility company for that amount. If you qualify for $300 from LIHEAP, but your heating bill is only $250, the extra $50 will go back into the funding pool.
If you earn a low income, you may still be able to get help. Both homeowners and renters can apply for fuel assistance.
The program is offered in both Massachusetts and Berkshire County. Otis, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield, Richmond, Rowe, Savoy, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, West Becket, and Williamstown. The towns that this program serves are Alford, Ashley Falls, Becket, Adams, Cheshire, Chester, Clarksburg, Dalton, Drury, E. Otis, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield, Richmond, Rowe, Savoy, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, West Becket, and Williamstown. Otis, Florida, Great Barrington, Hancock, Hinsdale, Housatonic, Lanesboro, New Marlboro, Lee, Lenox, Lenoxdale, Mill River, and Monterey are all located in Massachusetts. The communication agency also provides services to people in Mt. Washington, Pittsfield, New Ashford, North Adams, and N. Lee, Stockbridge, Tyringham Egremont, Richmond, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, South Egremont, Stockbridge, and Tyringham are all towns in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, while S. Lee is a town in Franklin County. Springfield and Westhampton. The following towns are located in Lee, Southfield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, W. Springfield and Westhampton: Lee, Southfield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, W. Springfield, Westhampton. towns in Washington state Priority for financial help is given to households of senior citizens or disabled persons and with children of the ages 6 or less and are high energy users.
The Berkshire Community Action Council provides emergency housing and rent assistance to those in need. They also offer transitional resources to help people get back on their feet. This department offers a housing and shelter program for income-qualified individuals and families who need emergency support.
This means that the main focus is on helping those who have not been able to pay their rent or those who have no home. Some things are more important than others. The goal of BCAC is to prevent homelessness by providing services that will help people transition into permanent housing.
The goal of the program is to help the participants become more independent and self-sufficient. A client can not only get funds to pay for rent or housing costs such as utilities, but job training and other case management services are also available.
The resources can offer loans for housing costs, like a security deposit. There are many reasons why people become homeless. Case management can help people understand why they became homeless, and can connect them to resources that may help them get back on their feet. The community action agency will also help with money management, goal setting, finding a place to live, job skills, and connecting people with other resources they might need.
The services provided by BACAC are comprehensive and cover a wide range of needs. The staff can help participants by referring them to other programs in the community that can provide them with stability and support. This means that as they continue to move from shelters to permanent homes, they will still have this service. The need for a referral is based on the resident’s individual needs.
There is a partnership between the Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority and Project RECONNECT to help prevent homelessness and provide transitional housing assistance. The Housing Authority provides housing for low-income families and individuals. They offer safe and affordable housing options and help with finding and paying rent.
The foodbank provides food to those who need it, including the elderly and children. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is the main supplier of food for the Berkshire County Area Council. They support distribution centers by providing resources such as charities and pantries. They help to make sure that people in Pittsfield have access to a local grocery delivery site that is centrally located.
The Additional Heating System Services program helps county residents who need help paying their utility bills. The program is designed to help people who have lost power or electricity due to nonpayment. If you’re eligible for Fuel Assistance and own your home, this service can help you repair your heating system. It can also help renters.
If the heating system is not fixable, then there is assistance to replace the furnace or whatever type of system is used by the resident. This program does not provide routine cleanings, unless there are funds available at the end of the winter season.
Weatherization is a government service that is offered from BCAC. This service helps to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Many people who live in Berkshire County have saved money on their utility bills by taking advantage of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which is funded by the federal and state government.
This means that there is money available from both the government and Utility Company to pay for this cash grant. The goal of this program is to help people save money on their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
The Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) contacts qualified contractors to perform permanent weatherization work to the best of their ability. This means that you can get money back for adding insulation to your home, which will help to keep it warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Other services that may be offered by BCAC in order to prevent heat loss are weather-stripping, furnace tune ups, and air sealing.
If your heating system is not working properly, you may be able to get help through a community action agency heating service program. This program may help you repair or replace your furnace or other heating system. The work will be done free of charge for the homeowner or tenant. (175) The Fuel Assistance program (LIHEAP) is available to most people who are also eligible for this conservation program.
Another electricity savings program is available to qualifying households. This program provides a way for families to save money on their electricity bill. This is in addition to the previously mentioned information. To reduce your carbon footprint, you can start by making changes in your home, such as switching to energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances. You can ask BCAC for more information.
The project Reconnect offers resources that helps people become self-sufficient which then in turn helps the Berkshire County area. This BCAC resource provides mentorship and support that focuses on the individual’s overall well-being. Staff work to help people become more productive and independent citizens by teaching them how to make positive choices and changes.
This person-centered program is designed to improve the western Massachusetts community workforce by increasing the ratio of productive people to those dependent on the system through job training and education.
The Project RECONNECT program offers something unique that other private or government programs don’t. It is dedicated to making a positive change in the community. Case managers from the Berkshire Community Action Council coordinate with other agencies and services to provide the best possible care for their clients. This means that individuals must be motivated to work hard and take charge of their own lives, rather than relying on others.
The Project and the non-profit agency offer career preparedness training to help people develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their careers. This service offers a training program that helps participants be successful in the workforce in western Massachusetts.
This program provides participants with the skills they need to succeed in their careers, as well as career counseling and education opportunities. participants will also develop a professional portfolio to showcase their skills and abilities. To create an updated resume, cover letter and employee reference sheet, work with staff. The program will also provide graduates with a Career Preparedness Certificate to help them with their job search.
The Berkshire Community Action Council offers low cost transportation services. They have a fleet of vans and cars that are either ambulatory or wheelchair equipped, which they use for this program. Volunteers and professional drivers operate in Pittsfield, Massachusetts as well as other towns in the county. This provides a vital service to the community by ensuring that people can get around, even if they don’t have their own transportation. The source of funding for this program is the state and department of Mental Needs.
The Medical Reassurance Service Program can help elderly people in Berkshire County. This is a volunteer service to provide assistance to those who may not be able to do things for themselves.
The volunteers may make daily phone calls to remind their peers to take medications, deliver meals, to check on their health and well-being, or to do health maintenance tasks. The M.R.S. program from Berkshire Community Action helps seniors stay independent so they can keep living in their own homes.
Get assistance from Berkshire Community Action Council
Please call the number (413) 445-4503. Berkshire Community Action Council is located at 1531 East Street in Pittsfield, MA.