FloridaCommerce has announced the availability of disaster flexibilities to existing funding for eight Community Action Agencies (CAAs) impacted by the Gulf Winter Weather System. This initiative aims to provide these agencies with increased flexibility in using funds from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to address a wider range of urgent household needs.
The affected CAAs include Bay County Council on Aging, Capital Area Community Action Agency, Central Florida Community Action Agency, Community Action Program Committee, Jackson County Senior Citizens Inc., Northeast Florida Community Action Agency, Suwannee River Economic Council, and Tri County Community Council, Inc.
“At the Governor’s direction, FloridaCommerce is activating immediate flexible funding to help Community Action Agencies serve Floridians’ storm-related energy needs,” stated Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “These disaster flexibilities ensure that weather-affected Floridians’ Community Action Agencies have immediate and more flexible ways to deploy home-energy and wrap-around supports because many of these immediate services can be the difference-maker for affected families.”
The LIHEAP funds offer CAAs the ability to provide urgent wrap-around services such as temporary housing assistance, utility payments, electrical power cable connections from utility service points to homes, utility box replacements and reconnections including pole repairs.
Crisis-related LIHEAP benefits are available from January 20 through March 21, 2025. Extensions may be granted upon notice by FloridaCommerce.