Community Action of Skagit County Adapts, New Services Available
Community Action is fulfilling their mission during COVID-19. Services continue, but all in-person office services have been suspended at all locations until further notice. The East County Resource Center in Concrete is remaining open with limited walk-up services.
“Community Action has added remote services options, and some new services available for the first time to people of low-to-moderate income,” said Bill Henkel, Executive Director. “Community Action is also keeping up to date on all new financial stability
resources available through the state and federal governments, and our staff can coach callers on how to find the resources they need.” For more information, please call or go online for daily service updates for all programs, including those not listed below.
Daily service updates:
Click the COVID-19 tab at https://www.communityactionskagit.org
Main office, general
information, and Skagit Vets Connect: 360-416-7585
Energy Assistance:
360-428-1011
WIC: 360-416-759
East County Resource
Center: 360-416-1735
“In the last 10-14 days in response to the COVID 19 crisis, Community Action has pivoted to electronically or over the phone, including some new services available for the first time to people of low-to-moderate income,” said Bill Henkel, Executive Director. “Community Action is also keeping up to date on resources available through our partners and through the state and federal governments, and our staff can coach callers on how to find the resources they need.”
More Skagit households than ever now qualify for energy assistance, and Community Action is helping by phone with no in-person appointment needed. PSE has suspended disconnection, and assistance paying back bills is available. Eligibility for Cascade Natural Gas assistance has broadened to include households whose income is up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. That means a family of four could have earned $50,000 last year and qualify for $25 to $500 in assistance. The average help per household in Skagit County is $400-$500. Call 360.428.1011 to get help paying your energy bills through Community Action.
Homeless families with children and pregnant women can be served through Winter Family Motel Voucher Program. Vouchers will be issued to eligible families for a one-week stay. Families can be considered for extension at the end of their week-long stay by returning to Community Action. Vouchers in this program will continue to be issued until March 31, 2020, or until funds run out.
Homeless people aged 60 and over who have serious underlying health conditions may be served through the COVID-19 Motel Voucher Program. Vouchers will be issued to eligible households for a two-week stay. Households can be considered for an extension at the end of their two-week stay. Vouchers in this program will continue to be issued until May 31, 2020, or until funds run out. Individuals with serious health conditions under the age of 60 can be considered for an “exception” to be served in the COVID-19 Motel Voucher Program. Community Action will submit requests for exceptions to Skagit County Public Health for their approval, with no guarantee that everyone requesting an exception will be approved.
How to help:
In the short term, financial contributions will help Community Action cover unexpected costs of service delivery. Following Public Health guidelines for social distancing and sanitation, Community Action is temporarily suspending new volunteer engagement and in-kind donations (gifts of items). Within several days, new opportunities to volunteer and give may become available. To be notified of ways to help, email:
VolunteerCenter@CommunityActionSkagit.org, or go to www.communityactionskagit.org to make a financial donation.