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ASSURANCE 16. OBJECTIVE. To understand what activities fall under Assurance 16 funding. To determine how those activities can be implemented. To understand what documentation is required for those activities. ASSURANCE 16.
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OBJECTIVE To understand what activities fall under Assurance 16 funding. To determine how those activities can be implemented. To understand what documentation is required for those activities.
ASSURANCE 16 (ASSURANCE 16) use up to 5 percent of such funds, at its option, to provide services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance, including needs assessments, counseling, and assistance with energy vendors. Report to the Secretary concerning the impact of such activities on the number of households served, the level of direct benefits provided to those households, and the number of households that remain unserved. Not Mandatory – up to 5% of the funds
3 parts of energy assistance STATUTE To provide services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance including needs assessments, counseling, and assistance with energy vendors,
IHCDA’s Program support line Policy Change: The Program Support line previously under the Assurance 16 budget line is no longer allowable effective for all claims submitted on or after June 15, 2017. The overall percent of five (5) percent for Assurance 16 will not change and does not need to be broken into specific activities. LSPs may continue to use the Assurance 16 budget line to be reimbursed for the following acceptable Assurance 16 activities.
Non-allowable A16 costs Any activities that may be considered Administrative costs such as office space, desks, equipment, supplies, non-LIHEAP staff referring clients to LIHEAP, etc. During the LIHEAP monitoring visit, HHS staff noticed these kinds of non-allowable expenses were being charged to the Program Support line.
Goal of Assurance 16 Reduce Energy Burden Reduce household energy costs Increase household income available for energy cost Reduce energy crisis need
Typical a16 features Energy Counseling/Education Energy Conservation: What are the energy habits? How can clients learn to conserve energy? Case Management: Can be coordinated with other funding sources for family development “wrap around” services Budget Counseling: Tracking utility costs
Target groups: Households seeking crisis benefits Households with a high energy burden Low income households
A16 Outreach and recruitment How can LSPs conduct outreach and recruitment? Interview during LIHEAP application process Outreach via letter, email, or telephone call Comprehensive data base listings generated for crisis program applicants Posters at all application sites Flyers at all application sites
STATUTE: Reduce home energy needs: Energy Education How can LSPs conduct energy education? Group Energy Education -Energy Education Classroom Instruction -Vendor Workshops -Hands-on Conservation/Exhibits One-on-one Energy Education -One-on-one meetings -Videos -Online Courses -Flyers -Handouts -Energy Bill Reviews -Energy Usage tracking
STATUTE:INCLUDING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT How can LSPs conduct a needs assessment? Energy Usage -Energy usage patterns -Home energy assessment -Weatherization referral Social Service Needs -Social Services Need -Cash Assistance Need
Statute: assistance with energy vendors How can LSPs work with clients and utility vendors? Advocacy: Referring clients to services that the utility company or other agencies that have services Development of resources for the client Intervention: To avoid the shut off process. Information and Referral: getting clients signed up for vendor budget plans or finding other kinds of agency assistance
Ihcda Accountability Statue: Report to the Secretary concerning the impact of such activities Number of households served The level of direct benefits provided to those households The number of households that remain unserved
accountability Documentation: Must show accountability of Federal Funds. Documenting Assurance 16 activities can be very individualized; different families have different needs. Also, LSPs may be doing different kinds of activities.
DOCUMENTATION To document A16 costs, documents need to contain the following the following: -A date on which the activity occurred -What the activity included -Documentation of that activity on paper or in the State’s database
Examples of Documents In case files: Staff time on activities Households participation Results for each household Report overall the number of households who: Attend presentations Install measures and report back Do not require crisis the next year Reduce heating costs
Cost allocation How should LSPs allocate cost? Case worker whose time sheet includes activities: chart A16 under the proper item. Put these activities into your A 16 plan, and these activities can be charged to A16.
Procedures to track A16 Activities Develop separate procedure to track expenditure: separated cost allocation
Fiscal responsibility Monitoring the grantees on A16: HHS
Arkansas example Your money your Goals Tool kit Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) https://www.consumerfinance.gov/your-money-your-goals/
The Case file Case files should all have the same documentation Example from Arkansas: Agreement to participate: The client and the agency sign, to say they will participate Needs assessment and Case plan: identify weaknesses and needs, and provide a personalized service to the household, includes outline of goals to become self sufficient Counseling actives and documentation : all detailed and facts of any event or time spent with client, date of contact, summary and case notes with information, statement of activities, Vendor assistance documentation: In Arkansas, the households receive a stipend which is paid directly to the vendor in order to participate Types of payment assistance Exit interview
Arkansas: Example Household Budgeting Energy Education Information and Referral Customer Advocacy
Delaware: example Delaware: to make clients energy aware, Does a Pre-assessment, Advocacy, Education, Monitoring and Workshops.
Gets consent from the utility company to track usage for 12 months. Does a Report Card Does monthly meetings, does special meeting for the kids Encourages Installation of the energy saving kits (1 pack of 4 LED light bulbs, 1 low flow shower head2 faucet aerators, 1 LED nightlight, 1 toilet tank bank, 1 12 month calendar with energy saving tips, additional pamplets, brochures).
