Project Go Inc

Improve Home Energy ConservationPGI Weatherization Services play a critical role in helping our low-income clients to reduce their energy burden. The staff of our Energy Program work year-round to insulate attics and doors, replace old windows, heaters, water heaters refrigerators and other appliances, and install other conservation measures to ensure that homes stay energy efficient and energy affordable. The installation of these measures had multiple impacts, including the reduction of heating/cooling costs, a safer and more comfortable living environment, and a reduction in the natural resources wasted. PGI staff have estimated that we have installed energy saving measures on the residences of over 42,535 low-income residents of Placer and Nevada county since our inception.In addition to installing Attic and Floor Insulation and Venting, our Weatherization Crews install: Door Weatherstripping, New Doors, New Windows, Caulking, Low-flow Water Devices, Energy Efficient Lighting, Ceiling Fans, Mechanical Ventilation, Storm Windows, and we have replaced defective , obsolete, inefficient, dangerous appliances. In the past twelve years, our Weatherization Crews have repaired, replaced and recycled (environmentally correct disposal) over: 1,360 Refrigerators, over 1,160 Combustion Appliances (HVAC, Water Heaters, etc.),375 Washing Machines and 275 Cook Stoves. These dangerous appliances could potentially create health and safety problems for our clients. Some were discharging harmful carbon monoxide poisoning the residents, which could have led to serious health issues had they not been replaced. The demand for appliance replacement has grown substantially each year as the housing stock that is available for those of less income tends to be very old and obsolete and sometimes dangerous. Provide Emergency Energy AssistanceThrough the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP/LIHEAP), PGI staff provides assistance with the payment of utility bills (UA) to avoid utility disruption or future disruption. The LIHEAP program also allows PGI to purchase Propane, Firewood, and Oil for clients who heat their homes with those commodities. This program is available to income qualified persons who reside in Placer and Nevada Counties.In 2023, PGI Staff provided UA to over 3,588 low-income individuals, seniors and families, bringing our thirteen-year total to over 40,588 clients assisted. The UA Program helps to defray the high costs associated with heating and cooling residences and to avoid the disruption of heating/cooling service in the most critical times of the seasons. UA benefits range from $350. - $781. depending on the size and income level of the household. A maximum benefit (including a supplement) can be as high as $1,000. It is to be noted that 75% of the clientele that we served in 2023 were identified as vulnerable populations (i.e., elderly, handicapped, children under age 5). This shows that our funding is going where it truly matters!Through the Low-Income Home Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), PGI Staff provided payment assistance to 1,074 low-income clients in Placer, Nevada, Sierra and Plumas counties, which gave us the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the various Water Providers in these counties. The LIHWAP program was difficult to administer due to some of the federal program requirements, but PGI staff did our best to get the word out, collaborate with the water agencies, and provide assistance as we could. The program was initially limited to delinquent balances only, which is problematic in our counties because of the policy to transfer past due water/sewer balances to tax bills on a quarterly basis. After much lobbying of CSD, beginning in January 2023, we were able to convince those Powers That Be to adopt a federal policy that allowed us to pay current bills, which opened the doors for those who needed some help, but did not have delinquencies to pay. There are many more barriers to successful operation of this program, such as a horrendous paperwork process required for serving clients with water/sewer included in their rent, and the prohibition for serving clients with well-water, so the program was difficult to administer due to these issues in our areas. The LIHWAP program was extended through March 2024.

Empower People at Risk and in Poverty to Become Self-SufficientPGI was designated as the Placer County Community Action Agency (CAA) in 2013, which provided a guaranteed allocation of Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funding. The Placer County CAA was previously under the Placer County Health and Human Services Dept. for over 30 years, but the County relinquished their designation, giving PGI the opportunity to submit a proposal. The intent of the CSBG program is to help the extremely low-income population to reach self-sufficiency. Previously, Placer County passed-through a portion of the CSBG funding to the Non-Profit network in Placer County, and those agencies provided the services directly. PGI agreed to continue utilizing that pass-through process for the first few years of the transition, and it has worked very well, so we have continued in that vein ever since, utilizing a Request for Proposal process.The allocation of CSBG funding, and the designation as the CAA, comes with a lot of responsibilities for making determinations as to the needs of the low-income residents of Placer County. PGI is required to conduct a public Needs Assessment every two years, for which we request input and feedback from the residents of Placer County. Once the Needs Assessment is completed, PGI is required to develop a Community Action Plan (CAP), which becomes the roadmap to direct the distribution of the CSBG funding in the provision of services to satisfy those needs. The last Needs Assessment and CAP were completed in 2023, and the top needs included (not in any order): Lack of Affordable Housing, Lack of Affordable/Accessible Transportation, Food Insecurity, Homeless Assistance, Senior Services, Children and Family Services, Jobs and Job Training, Access to Services in Remote Areas, and Services for the Mentally Ill. Once the CNA has been completed and circulated, PGI solicits proposals from the Non-Profit Community to provide services that are in sync with the Needs Assessment. In 2023-24, PGI funded the following Non-Profit Organizations:Child Advocates of Placer County Youth & Family Mentor Program (Prosper Placer Program)Sierra Community House Domestic Violence Service/Food Bank/Counseling CenterVolunteers of America Second Chance Homeless Prevention Services (Roseville Home Start)Auburn Interfaith Food Closet Senior Meal Delivery in Outlying Areas of Placer CountySierra Senior Services Senior Meal Delivery & Health & Safety Checks in Tahoe AreaCombining PGI programs and the programs offered by our Non-Profit partners, supportive services were provided to over 13,800 low-income individuals; over 32,500 meals were provided to home-bound seniors; over 475 Seniors and Disabled Individuals maintained an independent living situation; over 112 families maintained safe and affordable housing; and over 27,000 volunteer hours were donated.