TITLE
Title
BUDGET AMENDMENT: DHHS-SOCIAL SERVICES DIVISION: ACCEPT FY2023 FUNDING FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHWAP)
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Sharon Barlow
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BACKGROUND
Background
Guilford County has received a 2nd funding allocation of $831,312 for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) from the NC Department of Health & Human Services (NC DHHS) to be used to continue the program in FY 2022-23. This program provides emergency assistance to low-income households, particularly those with the lowest of incomes that pay a high proportion of their household income for drinking and wastewater services. Eligibility for the program will be income based for household at or below 150% Federal Poverty level. Households receiving benefits through Low-Income Energy Assistance Programs (LIEAP), Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) will automatically be eligible. Funds must be paid to owners or operators of public water systems or treatment works to reduce arrearage of and rates charged to eligible households.
After the first allocation was received by the County in Fall 2021, the State developed a statewide portal for water providers to complete their vendor agreements so individual county-level agreements do not need to be completed or updated for this allocation period.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
Budget Ordinance Amendment
General Fund
$831,312 Increase in Federal/State Revenue
$831,312 Increase in Appropriation to Health & Human Services (Social Services)
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve budget ordinance amendment to reflect receipt of a $831,312 funding allocation from the NC Department of Health & Human Services for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP); and approve an increase of $831,312 in Federal/State Revenue and increase the FY 2022-23 Health & Human Services - Social Services Division budget by the same amount to reflect the additional funding allocation for the LIHWAP program.
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