Eligibility for assistance is based on household size,
income, fuel type, and geographic location. House-
holds with the greatest need receive the highest
level of assistance. Benefits reflect a fixed portion
of average fuel consumption based on fuel type.
They range from a low of 19 percent of average
consumption to a high of 35 percent. Both renters
and home owners are eligible for assistance under
the Program.

The Program also offers Emergency Energy
Assistance to households certified eligible for regu-
lar MEAP benefits. This assistance, provided on a
one-time-only basis, is for fuel deliveries, utility
cut-offs, emergency repairs, blankets, emergency
space heaters, or emergency shelter. It may not
exceed $200. Benefits provided are paid directly to
energy vendors selected by the eligible household.
Vendors deliver fuel to a household until that
household's benefit amount is exhausted. Vendors
that participate in the Program do so under
contract with the State.

WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM

Allan Hobby, Director

1123 N. Eutaw St.
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-2543

The Weatherization Assistance Program funds
local community based service organizations to
help low-income, elderly, and disabled/handi-
capped persons conserve energy. The Program
contracts with seventeen local administering agen-
cies (county governments, community action agen-
cies, offices on aging, non-profit organizations) to
provide this weatherization assistance.

For eligible households, the Program provides
up to $1,000 in direct weatherization materials
installed free of charge by certified workers. Eligi-
bility for assistance is determined by family size
and income. The major energy conservation meas-
ures for these homes are planned to improve
thermal efficiency. Most commonly, they include
insulation, storm windows, weatherstripping,
caulking, hot water heater jackets, pipe insulation,
and clock thermostats. Recipients stay warmer
while spending less money on fuel. The Program
promotes community awareness of energy conser-
vation, provides jobs, and stimulates the weatheri-
zation industry.

COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK
GRANT PROGRAM

Brenda Townsend-Milton, Director

Human Resources/247

1123 N. Eutaw St.
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-3718

The Community Services Block Grant Program
funds and technically assists eligible anti-poverty
community action programs, which work, through
a variety of mechanisms, to increase the self-
sufficiency of low-income people. The Program
also serves as a clearinghouse of information on
and access to other State and federal programs
useful to community action organizations.

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
was created by the federal Omnibus Budget Recon-
ciliation Act of 1981. It replaced earlier categorical
grants made by the federal Community Services
Administration to local community action agen-
cies. Funds from the CSBG are allocated to twelve
community agencies and four limited purpose
agencies operating in the State. The funds are
granted for administrative and program costs to
enable local agencies to serve primarily the elderly
poor, near poor, and working poor of their com-
munities. The State of Maryland accepted respon-
sibility for the anti-poverty program during fiscal
year 1982.

Community Services Block Grant funded agen-
cies include: Allegany County Human Resource
Development Commission, Inc.; Anne Arundel
County Economic Opportunity Committee, Inc.;
Baltimore City Urban Services Agency; Human
Resources Development Agency of Baltimore
County, Inc.; Dorchester Community Develop-
ment Corp.; Frederick Community Center; Garrett
County Community Action Committee, Inc.;
Howard County Community Action Council, Inc.;
Montgomery County Community Action Council,
Inc.; Washington County Community Action
Council, Inc.; Shore Up!, Inc.; Southern Maryland
Tri-County Community Action Committee, Inc.;
United Communities Against Poverty; Maryland
Food Committee; Maryland Rural Development
Corp.; and Spanish-Speaking Community of Mary-
land, Inc.

MARYLAND SERVICE CORPS

Advisory Council
Chairperson: Charles M. Ross

Woodrow M. Allen; Willia Bland; Robert D.
Herzog; Lousonia Jefferson; Philip C. Jimeno;
Ronald P. Milligan; Sheila Moscow; Marion
Pines; Mary E. Robinson; S. Frank Shore; Joan
M. Sewell; Duane Yoder.

James C. Thomson, Jr., Director