The basics of what we offer:
We offer assistance on power, water, heat, and life-sustaining medications, rent and food. We are not able to offer assistance on DEPOSITS or when the utility is turned off. We are able to help IF you have a past due balance or if you are in fear of being disconnected NOT on current charges.
Can you help me…
>if I live here?
We can only assist clients living in southern Greenville County, south of I-85, or northern Laurens County, north of Hwy. 101. To see if you qualify, go to Google Maps, enter your home address with zip code and see if you fall in the area mentioned above. This may save you a trip to our agency only to be told you are out of our service area.
>with Power, Water, Gas bills or Heating Oil?
We can assist with utility bills only if they are currently on, and if you have a past due amount. If you have already been disconnected or if you need funds to turn-on your service, we cannot assist. No DEPOSIT assistance is given.
>with rent?
You need to call office to verify if funds are available for this assistance. You will need to bring with you, if funding is available, a current statement from your landlord/mortgage company stating what your rent/mortgage is, how much is past due, when it is due, contact name and contact number of your landlord.
>with prescriptions?
You must provide the actual prescription or the bottle. We assist on life-sustaining medications only.
>with food?
Food is provided according to the number in your household to feed your family for two to three days. This is meant to help bridge the gap in your budget for food. Food assistance will be given no more than once a month until your emergency situation improves.
At this current time, we are only able to help with one utility in six-month period and food assistance once a month on an emergency basis situation.
Please note that nothing is a guarantee until you have come in for an interview. No assistance is given over the phone.
It is best to be here when we first open or shortly thereafter, to be seen. Once we reach 20 clients we do have to close our doors and that may be before our scheduled closing time.
What to bring when you come:
- Social Security card for you and everyone in the household (we can accept a bank statement, tax record, etc for your social security card number if you are unable to provide the actual card)
- The bill you currently need assistance with
- Proof of income
- Picture ID
- Rental Assistance (statement from Landlord)
Please note that if you come back for possible assistance, you must provide to us each time your picture ID and SS cards.
I have already received a pledge from GSERRA for assistance. Now what do I do?
Refer to the slip you were given at the time of your interview for specific follow up instructions. You must pay your part of the bill before we can pay our pledge. *For rent, your landlord must fax us at 962-5104 notifying us that you have paid your part. For most other utilities, you may leave a message at 688-2233 with your name, the type of utility you have a pledge for, and the receipt number you were given by the power, water, or gas company when you paid your part. Only after we receive this notification from you can we pay our pledge.
