NORTHWEST MONTANA HUMAN RESOURCES INC DBA COMMUNITY ACTION PARNERSHIP NW MT

ENERGY DEPARTMENT: LIHEAP (LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM) PROVIDED ENERGY ASSISTANCE TO 4,674 HOUSEHOLDS IN FLATHEAD, LAKE, LINCOLN AND SANDERS COUNTIES, HELPING TO PAY ALL OR A PORTION OF THEIR HOMES WINTER HEATING COSTS. ENERGY SHARE OF MONTANA IS A PARTNERSHIP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS, ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL UTILITY COMPANIES COMMITTED TO HELPING MONTANA HOUSEHOLDS OVERCOME AN ENERGY CRISIS AND MOVE TOWARD SELF-RELIANCE. ENERGY SHARE HELPS WITH CRISIS ENERGY AND HEATING NEEDS THAT ARE USUALLY CAUSED BY SITUATIONS BEYOND THE HOUSEHOLDS CONTROL AND IS USED AS A LAST RESORT FOR THOSE INELIGIBLE FOR OTHER PROGRAMS OR STILL IN NEED AFTER OTHER RESOURCES ARE EXHAUSTED. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY UTILITY COMPANIES, UNIVERSAL SYSTEMS BENEFITS CHARGES AND DONATIONS FROM CONCERNED CONSUMERS. THIS PROGRAM ASSISTED 125 HOUSEHOLDS WITH EMERGENCY HEATING AND/OR ENERGY NEEDS. WEATHERIZATION ASSISTED 109 HOUSEHOLDS TO REDUCE THE HIGH COST OF ENERGY FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. CAPNM INSTALLS A COMBINATION OF ENERGY SAVING MEASURES SUCH AS WALL, ATTIC AND FLOOR INSULATION, DECREASING THE AMOUNT OF AIR INFILTRATION FROM DOORS AND WINDOWS AND PERFORMS EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY CHECKS ON HEATING SYSTEMS. ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ASSISTED 106 HOUSEHOLDS WITH EMERGENCY SERVICES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE HEATING SYSTEMS OR WATER HEATERS THAT WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY OR WERE ENERGY INEFFICIENT. BOTH LIHEAP AND WEATHERIZATION PROVIDED EXTENSIVE EDUCATION TO HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING AGENCY OFFERED SERVICES. INFORMATION INCLUDED: WINTER DISCONNECT PROTECTIONS, ENERGY CONSERVATION TIPS, HOME WEATHERIZATION TECHNIQUES, HOW TO OBTAIN REBATES, DISCOUNTS, AND TAX CREDITS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS. ENERGY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS ACTIVITIES IN COMMUNITIES WITHIN ALL 4 OF OUR SERVICE COUNTIES MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF ENERGY PROGRAMS THAT THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE BE AWARE OF AND PROMOTING ENERGY CONSERVATION PRACTICES.

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS: FINANCIAL SKILL BUILDING WORKSHOP IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO HELP STRENGTHEN AND IMPROVE AN INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE AND DECISION-MAKING SKILLS TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL FREEDOM. THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO BECOME MORE EDUCATED ABOUT PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. HOMEBUYER EDUCATION CLASS AND 1:1 HOUSING COUNSELING ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO LEARN ALL ASPECTS OF THE HOME BUYING PROCESS INCLUDING CREDIT REPORT AND SCORE, SHOPPING FOR MORTGAGE LOAN, BUDGETING TO PURCHASE, FINDING THE RIGHT HOME AND INSPECTION PROCESS, LOAN PROCESS AND BEING A HOMEOWNER. 56 INDIVIDUALS WERE ENROLLED IN THESE PROGRAMS. THE RENTING WISE WORKSHOP IS TO HELP RENTERS GET INTO AND MAINTAIN DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM FOR RENTERS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND HOUSING DUE TO BLEMISHES IN THEIR PAST RENTAL HISTORY. IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A MORE EDUCATED TENANT. A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES WERE OFFERED WITHIN THIS DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF A VARIETY OF ESSENTIAL CARE KITS FOR PARTICIPANTS. 363 VARIOUS KITS WERE PROVIDED WHICH INCLUDED WELCOME HOME KITS FOR HOMELESS HOUSEHOLDS AS THEY MOVE INTO STABLE HOUSING AND INCLUDED CLEANING SUPPLIES/KITCHEN GOODS/NEW SHEETS/EMERGENCY FOOD KITS, BABY KITS, HYGIENE KITES, SLEEPING BAGS AND EMERGENCY COLD WEATHER KITS. COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (CSBG) IS THE FUNDING THAT LINKS ALL AGENCY PROGRAMS AND PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT SELF-SUSTAINING ON THEIR OWN. THE AGENCY IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP NETWORK THAT RECEIVES THIS FUNDING. ITS EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROMOTE INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SELF-SUFFICIENCY. DURING THE YEAR, CAPNM MADE OVER 2,589 REFERRALS TO NON-PROFITS/SERVICES IN OUR FOUR-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 80 HOURS TO THE AGENCY IN 2023.CAPNM HAS CONTINUED TO BE A FIRST RESPONDER FOR DISADVANTAGED HOUSEHOLDS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID 19, AND BEYOND. AND WE WORK HARD TO PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. ALL WHILE NAVIGATING CONTINUALLY CHANGING REQUIREMENTS, FUNDING AND SERVICE DELIVERY.