EFA Utility AssistanceProgram Policy

• Provide short-term emergency financial assistance to help households maintain essential utility services, prevent shutoff, or restore disconnected services.
• Assistance is designed to support safe and stable living conditions during temporary financial hardship.

• Households at risk of utility shutoff or service disconnection
• Individuals and families with utilities already disconnected
• Low-income households or those experiencing a documented financial crisis

Eligible assistance may include:

• Past-due utility bills (electric, gas, or water)
• Payments required to prevent shutoff
• Payments required to restore service
• Reconnection or activation fees (if documented and allowable)

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Utility crisis (shutoff notice, disconnection, or past-due balance)
• Documented financial hardship
• Required documentation provided
• Utility service must be tied to the applicant's primary residence
• Applicant is account holder or verified responsible party
• Request supports shutoff prevention or service restoration

Applicants may be required to provide:

• Government-issued identification
• Proof of income or hardship (pay stubs, benefits letter, tax documents)
• Current utility bill or account statement
• Shutoff or disconnection notice (if applicable)
• Reconnection notice or balance verification
• Supporting crisis documentation (income loss, medical, emergency)
• Any additional documentation required to verify eligibility

What This Program Does Not Cover:

• Ongoing or long-term utility assistance
• Utility services not tied to the applicant's primary residence
• Payments made directly to applicants
• Incomplete or unverifiable applications
• Requests without documented utility crisis
• Any costs restricted by funding sources

• Payments are made directly to utility providers
• Assistance is not provided directly to applicants unless specified by program guidelines
• Payments are issued after all required documentation and verification are complete
• All requests are subject to funding availability

• Assistance is not guaranteed
• Applicants must provide accurate and complete information
• AOP verifies information with third parties
• Duplicate funding for the same expense is not allowed
• Assistance must be used only for approved expenses

Processing time varies based on:

• Documentation completeness
• Verification requirements
• Funding availability

• Assistance is generally limited to one-time, short-term support per household
• Maximum amounts vary by funding source
• Amounts may be adjusted based on need and funding
• Repeat assistance is not guaranteed

When funds are limited, priority may be given to:

• Households with urgent need
• Low-income households
• Vulnerable populations (e.g., children, seniors, individuals with disabilities)
• Cases are reviewed based on need, documentation, and available funding

• Funding may come from government, foundation, corporate, or private sources
• Assistance must follow all funding requirements
• Eligible expenses may vary by funding source
• AOP complies with all applicable laws and regulations

• Staff and volunteers may not benefit from program assistance
• Conflicts must be disclosed and managed per policy

AOP reserves the right to:

• Approve, deny, or modify requests
• Request additional documentation
• Adjust assistance based on funding and program guidelines
• Eligibility does not guarantee assistance

• False or misleading information may result in denial or termination
• AOP maintains controls to ensure proper use of funds
• Suspected misuse may be reviewed and investigated

• Applicant information is collected and used solely for program eligibility, verification, and reporting purposes
• Information may be shared with service providers or funders as required
• AOP maintains safeguards to protect information

• AOP provides services without discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, age, disability or national origin

• Submission of an application indicates acceptance of this policy