West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc.

Service Area

The Energy Assistance, Crisis, and Energy Related Repair Programs are available to eligible clients in the seven Minnesota counties of Clay, Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin, and is administered by staff of West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. through its offices in Alexandria, Elbow Lake, and Moorhead, Minnesota.

There is a staff person at the 700 Cedar Building (former Marian Building), 700 Cedar Street, Suite 261, in Alexandria from approximately October 1 through February 15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: 320-763-7925.

The Moorhead office, which is located at 715 11th Street N, Suite 100, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone: 1-218-299-7846 or 1-218-299-7294.

The Elbow Lake office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the address and phone numbers below. Walk-ins are welcome at all of the offices.

Please return completed Energy Assistance Applications to the Elbow Lake office. WCMCA, Inc. office address is:

WCMCA, Inc.

411 Industrial Park Boulevard

Elbow Lake, MN 56531

The Energy Assistance Program

A program that is designed to assist income eligible households with the cost of energy/heating their homes.

Assistance

Assistance amounts are determined by the number of people that live in the home, the type of fuel used, the cost for the previous year, and the income the household has received in three (3) previous months to when application is submitted.
The assistance is provided directly to the fuel supplier.

Eligibility

The program is available to homeowners and renters.
Eligible households for Energy Assistance are also eligible for the Weatherization Program upon request.
To be eligible, applicants must be vulnerable to increases in home heating energy costs.
Any Minnesota resident may apply for the program.
Applications are available by mail, or from offices located in Alexandria, Moorhead, or Elbow Lake.
Households also have the opportunity to register to vote.

Guidelines

Eligibility guidelines are revised yearly. Following are the income guidelines for the 2011-2012 Energy Assistance Program year from October 1, 2011, through May 31, 2012. You may request applications through that date.

Maximum income for three (3) months
Household size	Income
1	$ 5,596
2	$ 7,318
3	$ 9,040
4	$ 10,762
5	$12,484
6	$14,206

Reach out for Warmth Program

Reach out for Warmth Program is funded by donations from private individuals or companies. To be eligible a household could have income at or below the 60% of State Median income for the past three months:

Maximum income for three (3) months
Household size	Income
1	$ 6,786
2	$ 8,874
3	$ 10,962
4	$ 13,050

Please contact the Energy Assistance Department for application information.

Crisis Program

Households that are eligible for the Energy Assistance Program and have used all their original grants may call for assistance with this program.

Energy Related Repair Program

A program for homeowners who are eligible for the Energy Assistance Program that addresses safety or no heat problems due to malfunctioning or non-functioning heating systems.
Call our agency for assistance in applying: Barb K. Ext. 111, Janet Ext. 139, Diane B. Ext 148.

Applications are available during the program year by calling 1-800-492-4805, Ext. 400 or 1-218-685-4486, Extension 400. Home visits may be requested for the Homebound.

*MN (GAP) Gas Affordability Program for Great Plains

Would you like to lower your monthly gas bills and pay past-due balances? Great Plains Natural Gas Company has an energy assistance program available to qualified Minnesota customers called the Gas Affordability Program (GAP). The purpose of this program is to help qualified customers lower their monthly gas bills and pay past-due balances.
To qualify for the program you must have received a Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant for the current heating season.
Contact West Central MN Communities Action at 1-800-492-4805 or click below for application and information.

Minnesota Energy Programs Information and Applications

(GAP) GasAffordabilityProgam Application

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