Community Services provides quality residential and neighborhood stabilization services in Terrebonne Parish. There are five major areas of assistance offered.
Crisis - Intervention Rent, Hotel, and Mortgage Assistance Program
The Emergency Rent, Hotel and Mortgage Assistance Program provides financial assistance to eligible low income families who meet a stringent criteria to enable them to either maintain a current residence, to pay the first month's rent at another residence or to secure temporary shelter. Services are limited by both maximum caps per service rendered as well as funding availability and time lapse between requests.
Weatherization Assistance Program
The Weatherization Assistance Program provides for the installation of energy saving measures in the homes of low-income people designed to prevent heat from escaping in the winter and cool air from escaping in the summer. These energy saving measures can include caulking, weather-stripping, window and door replacement, attic insulation, and incidental repairs.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides payment directly to utility vendors on behalf of low-income households to reduce the burden of high-energy cost. Applications are taken by appointment. An applicant may apply only once per year. Since this is not a crisis intervention program, applicants are expected to keep their utility service active until the agency is ready to process payment to utility vendors.
Needy Family Food Assistance Program
The Needy Family Food Assistance Program (Commodities) provides USDA staples to eligible households on a quarterly basis. The staples are distributed at several locations throughout the Parish. Applications are taken on an on-going basis prior to each distribution.
Emergency Intervention Program
The Emergency Intervention Program provides assistance to eligible low-income families to replace certain items that may have been destroyed as a result of a fire or flood. This program is designed to provide immediate support when no other resources are available.
Community Service Block Grant (CSBG)
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), administered by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, provides core funding to local agencies to reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities and to empower low-income families to become self-sufficient.
The state requires the community needs assessment done every 3 years for creating a profile of the needs and resources of a given community or target population and the report made available to the community.