MARYLAND ENERGY ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM

Shirley M. Marcus, Director

1123 N. Eutaw St., Room 521
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 333-0063

The Department of Human Resources adminis-
ters the Maryland Energy Assistance Program
(MEAP) through the Community Services Ad-
ministration. The Administration subcontracts
with twenty local agencies (departments of social
services, governments, and community action
agencies) to provide energy assistance to eligible
low-income households across the State. Under
this program, vendors provide a combination of
fuel oil, electricity, gas (natural and/or propane),
wood, and coal to eligible households statewide.
Eligibility for assistance is based on household
size, income, fuel type, and geographic location.
Households 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 av-
erage consumption to a high of 35 percent. Heat-
ing assistance is offered to eligible renters, room-
ers, boarders, and home owners. Maryland is the
first state to offer this heating program to shelters
for battered spouses and the homeless.

The Program also offers Emergency Energy As-
sistance to households certified eligible for regular
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 $150. 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 con-
tract with the State.

The Maryland Energy Assistance Program of-
fice also is responsible for administering the feder-
al Low-Income Home Energy Program in Mary-
land. Under this federal program, the Secretary of
the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services has been authorized since 1981 to help el-
igible householders meet home energy costs with
federal funds (P.L. 97-35).

MARYLAND COMMISSION FOR
WOMEN

Chairperson: Sally T. Grant, 1990
Honorary Chairperson: Jeanette R. Wolman

George E. Allen; Malcolm Funn; Roberta B.
Hochberg; Jo Anne P. Welsh. Terms expire 1987.

Lorraine Q. Cecil; Kandyce M. Douglas; Alice C.
Hall; Terry C. Hamblin; Roberta E. Kaskel;
Maisie Hodes Wood. Terms expire 1988.

Lisa H. Jablon; Elizabeth F. Johnson; Edna M.
McLellan; Paula J. Peters; Stuart J. Robinson;
Lenel Srochi-Meyerhoff; Eileen M. Stein; Phyllis
B. Trickett. Terms expire 1989.

Diana M. Bailey; Elizabeth Jones; Esther R.
Levin; Richard H. Moore; Florence Perman.
Terms expire 1990.

Donna Rae Talbert, Executive Director

1123 N. Eutaw St., Room 603
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 333-0054

The Commission originally was appointed by
the Governor in 1965 as the Governor's Commis-
sion on the Status of Women. As part of a contin-
uing effort to promote human understanding and
to solve pressing social problems, the Commission
was reactivated in 1968 as the Maryland Commis-
sion on the Status of Women. The Governor di-
rected the Commission to review the previous
Commission's recommendations on education,
employment, and community and civic participa-
tion, and to take steps to implement those most
pertinent. The Commission also was to cooperate
with existing organizations on the State and local
levels in identifying problems and to work toward
increasing the opportunities for women to serve in
a variety of fields.

In 1971 the Commission on the Status of Wom-
en became a statutory agency, assigned to the De-
partment of Human Resources (Chapter 57, Acts
of 1971). The Commission adopted its present
name in 1976 (Chapter 119, Acts of 1976).

The Maryland Commission for Women pro-
motes the study and review of the status of wom-
en in the State. To strengthen home life, it directs
attention to critical problems confronting women
as wives, mothers, homemakers, and employed
people. The Commission recommends methods of
overcoming discrimination against women in pub-
lic and private employment and encourages wom-
en to become candidates for public office. In addi-
tion, the Commission promotes effective methods
for enabling women to develop their skills, contin-
ue their education, and be retrained.

The Commission consists of twenty-four mem-
bers appointed by the Governor from among per-
sons interested in the improvement of the status