Arizona Self Help (ASH)
www.ArizonaSelfHelp.org
Arizona Community Action Association is proud to offer
the Arizona Self Help website (www.arizonaselfhelp.org)
a free and confidential online resource that allows a
user to prescreen for 25 social service programs and
provides contact information and downloadable program
applications. The website, which is offered in both
English and Spanish, prescreens for the following
program areas: Food & Nutrition, Housing and Utilities,
Financial Benefits, services for Seniors and Persons
with a Disability, Health Care, Children's Resources,
and Jobs and Employment.
ACAA offers free training
opportunities to groups statewide, and we'd be happy to
show your organization, school, church, or other
interested group how you can use ASH to help your
clients help themselves. Materials are also available at
no cost to help get out the word. For more information
or to schedule a training session, please contact Katie
Kahle at
kkahle@azcaa.org.
Food & Nutrition
Programs
Arizona Community Action Association disseminates
critical information regarding the Food Stamp Program
and other food assistance and nutrition programs. Our
staff can provide brochures, flyers, and other materials
at no cost, and is also available to conduct
presentations on the Food Stamp Program and how to help
those who may be eligible to access it. Additionally,
ACAA conducts and participates in coalition building
efforts with hunger-related entities to address food
policy, security and recovery in Arizona, including:
Arizona Hunger Advisory Council sponsored by the Arizona
Department of Economic Security; The Statewide Gleaning
Project, a project of the Association of Arizona Food
Banks; and the Western Regional Anti-Hunger Consortium.
For current outreach materials or to request a
presentation, please contact
info@azcaa.org.
Energy
Programs
Affordable energy is an issue of critical concern
for low-income Arizonans. Many times, heating or cooling
costs for low-income families come at the expense
of other life necessities, such as food, clothing
or next month's rent. Since a high percentage of
their income is spent each month on utility services,
programs which make energy more affordable lessen
the financial impact on a low-income family. ACAA's
Energy Program strives to create programs and increase
funding to meet the needs of low-income families
and individuals in their struggle to remain or become
self-sufficient.
As a result of ACAA’s advocacy efforts in various
utility venues, the Arizona Corporation Commission,
Arizona Legislature, Arizona Public Service Company,
Salt River Project, Tucson Electric Power, Southwest
Gas, Community Action Agencies, and ACAA have formed
public/private partnerships in order to design and
deliver additional home weatherization, energy education,
and in some cases, bill assistance to low-income
families and individuals.
Utilities
offer a variety of programs to assist their
customers in managing their utility bills. These
range from discount and conservation programs to
bill assistance programs. To find out more about
what programs our utility partners provide, please
visit their websites below. To return to the ACAA
website, use your browser's back button.
For information regarding current utility discount
programs, contact info@azcaa.org.
People's
InfoGuide (PIG)
The People's
Information Guide (2007 – 2009 Edition) contains
information on a variety of low-cost and free
services and programs available to low-income
families and individuals. Some services listed in
the guide have eligibility requirements, and some do
not. The Guide is intended to assist families and
individuals in obtaining resources needed to prevent
a crisis and move toward self-sufficiency.
Information contained in the Guide is arranged by
category areas, and each entry contains a program
description, eligibility information, instructions
on how to apply, documents to bring, and contact
information for where to apply. The People's
Information Guide is free and is available in
English and Spanish.
To request
your copy of The People's InfoGuide, please contact
info@azcaa.org
The People's
Information Guide is also available online in English or
Spanish.
Advocacy
ACAA educates about and
advocates for the promotion and protection of services,
programs, and policies which help promote the well-being
and self-sufficiency of all Arizonans. In addition to
working collaboratively with our utility partners
statewide to promote fair and affordable energy costs
and access to emergency assistance, ACAA also has
provided advocacy on a variety of other issues.
Issues which ACAA will be
focusing on during this legislative session include
Federal and State budget and program funding, predatory
lending, asset development and affordable housing.
ACAA also intervenes in utility
rate cases in order to protect low-income customers from
ever increasing utility costs. Staff works closely with
our utility partners to prevent unnecessary increases,
and when appropriate intervenes directly in cases
affecting the low-income community.
Additionally, ACAA works closely
with the Basic Needs Coalition and PAFCO on joint
agendas and issues affecting the basic needs network of
services and support.
To get involved in advocacy
efforts, please contact
info@azcaa.org.
Training and Technical
Assistance
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