• ACP – Universal Service Administrative Company

     

    Broadband internet has rapidly become vital for accessing education, healthcare, remote work, and social services. Unfortunately, 18 million U.S. households do not have access to broadband – not due to a lack of available service, but simply because they cannot afford it.

    The new Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a monthly federal benefit that helps low income households pay for broadband service and internet-connected devices. For further information about ACP, please visit FCC.gov/acp. There is a wealth of information about the program and how to apply, as well as a toolkit and tips for community outreach around the program.

  • LIHWAP logo

    LIHWAP


    The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a federally funded program created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that helps households pay for drinking water and wastewater for their homes. This program will help eligible customers experiencing a water burden pay their home water bill.

    LIHWAP will open on Nov. 1, 2021 in Georgia and will prioritize households that have an arrearage or past due water bill through the remainder of the year. On Jan. 3, 2022, the program will begin serving households that contain seniors 60 years of age and older and households that contain children 5 years old and younger. All other households will be eligible to receive LIHWAP assistance beginning Feb. 1, 2022.

    NOTE: LIHWAP is not an entitlement program. These funds will only be distributed to eligible customers that receive water services through public pipelines from a vendor that has signed an agreement to participate in LIHWAP. 

    Customers can contact their water vendor and request that the supplier sign an agreement with DHS in order to be eligible to have these funds applied to their account. Unfortunately, families receiving water services from a vendor without a water supplier agreement will not receive LIHWAP. 

    To qualify for LIHWAP, customers must have a household water supplier that is a registered vendor for the LIHWAP program with the Department of Human Services (DHS). All LIHWAP assistance payments are applied directly to the water account through the household water supplier. Therefore, households whose water supplier does not participate in the program will not be eligible for assistance.

    The other basic eligibility requirements are:

    1. Have a total gross income at or below 60% of the State Median Income Guidelines for Georgia
    2. Be responsible for paying the cost of water for the household or be able to verify a water burden
    3. Be a US citizen or lawfully admitted immigrant

    Vendors interested in participating in LIHWAP can contact their local Community Action Agency or may send an email inquiry to DHS at liheap-csbg-lihwap@dhs.ga.gov or by calling 404-657-3426. 

    Water suppliers will need to submit a completed agreement to DHS by email at liheap-csbg-lihwap@dhs.ga.gov. An agreement must be completed in its entirety in order to be accepted and to avoid delays in processing.

    Download this pdf file. LIHWAP FAQ

    Download this pdf file. LIHWAP Signage