Kansas Financial Assistance Programs for Low-Income Families.  When struggling to make ends meet, it can be challenging to think about anything besides your next meal. However, a monetary assistance program can help you focus on making your future better.
Several assistance programs are available to low-income families in the Kansas City area. These programs can help you save money and pay for housing, free childcare, transportation, clothing, and other necessities.
Many low-income families are struggling with the rising cost of living in Kansas City. Fortunately, several monetary assistance programs are available to help you get back on your feet. This article discusses several of them and details how to apply for them.
Kansas Financial Assistance Programs
1. Emergency Food Assistance Program
The Emergency Food Assistance Program is a federal government funds program. This benefit helps provide food assistance to low-income families and individuals around the Kansas City area.
It can help you pay for groceries and provide food to take home. This program is administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the distribution of food assistance.
2. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income families meet their energy needs in the Kansas City area. It provides financial assistance with bills. This includes utility, gas, and electric bills to help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
You can qualify for this program if your household income is at or below the US Poverty Guidelines. If you have trouble paying your utility bills, contact LIHEAP immediately to avoid disconnection notices from your local utility company. The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) administers this program.
Missouri residents who have received a disconnection notice from their utility company may get help from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The program provides financial assistance to low-income families with emergency cash grants or heating and cooling system repair services.
3. Affordable Connectivity Program
The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program provides financial assistance to households so families can afford high-speed Internet for education, health care, and employment. Qualified households can save up to $30 each month on internet access, and those living on eligible Tribal territory can save upwards to $75 per month.
4. Lifeline
You might be eligible for a free government cell phone. There is nobody that has been left unaffected. People are getting stimulus checks and jobless checks, yet they cannot afford the higher cellphone bills.
If you qualify for Lifeline, you can save monthly money on your home or cell phone bill. A monthly discount of $9.25 is in place at this time.
Under federal regulations, a home cannot receive more than ONE Lifeline service at a time. In other words, low-income clients who qualify for the Lifeline program can receive a discount on either landline or wireless service, but not both.
5. Missouri Weatherization Assistance Program
The Missouri Weatherization Assistance Program (MWAP) can help low-income households save money on utility bills by making their homes more energy-efficient.  The MWAP provides free energy audits and weatherization services for eligible residents to reduce energy consumption in their homes by up to 50%.
These services include insulation installation, duct sealing, refrigerant recovery, furnace repair/replacement, water heater repair/replacement, and other repairs or replacements. This program is administered through the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS).
Anyone struggling to pay utility bills due to high energy usage can apply for this program. Priority is given to those with medical needs, such as seniors or disabled people who live alone.
6. How to Qualify for Weatherization Assistance
To qualify for the Weatherization Assistance Program, applicants must meet specific income requirements. They must also have a household income below 200% of the federal poverty level.
In addition to meeting income eligibility requirements and having a home that is old enough to be weatherized (at least 15 years old), applicants must also meet specific criteria related to energy usage.
The Missouri Department of Social Services provides information on applying for help with utility bills through the Weatherization Assistance Program and contact information for your local community action agency or Energy Office that administers the program in your area.
7. Project Share Assistance Programs
The program helps low-income families pay utility bills and avoid having services disconnected. Qualified applicants may be eligible for grants to help with utility bills and electric costs. The amount of money issued depends on income, household size, and the type of heating system in the home. Grant money is paid directly to your utility company as a credit to your bill.
In addition to helping with your utility bills, Project Share offers home weatherization services throughout Missouri, which help to make homes more energy-efficient. These services include installing insulation, sealing air leaks, and fixing drafty doors and windows.
Additionally, improving energy efficiency with water heaters, furnaces, and refrigerators. Homeowners and renters struggling to pay utility bills can receive help through the Help to Share programs throughout Missouri. Project Share serves Kansas City and surrounding areas.
8. Home Weatherization and Home Repairs
Any energy improvements installed through this program will reduce your home’s energy. Therefore, this means utility bills will be lower.
You can also benefit from insulation repairs, such as sealing air leaks on doors and windows. It will be much easier for your heating system to keep your home warm when temperatures outside are low.
The same principle applies to cooling your house during the summer months. Improving the insulation in your home can help reduce cooling and heat-heating costs.
In addition, Project Share provides emergency assistance `for people who have run out of other resources and need help paying their utility bills before their service gets disconnected.
The organization has offices across Missouri, including St Louis and Jefferson City, and Springfield, located in central Missouri near Branson and Kansas City.
9. Kansas Rent Assistance Programs
Kansas residents can enjoy Tenant-Based Rent assistance to help pay their rent. These are programs for low-income families that cannot pay their monthly rent in Kansas. For about two years, they have been government assistance programs that offer rent subsidies to low-income families or individuals in financial hardship.
The residents can apply for these rent assistance programs. Additionally, residents can get help with paying their security deposits and back rent on their apartments. They can also use this program to move into a new apartment unit. Below are some of these programs:
10. Kansas Section 8 Housing Voucher Program
The Kansas Section 8 housing voucher program is for low-income families with children and the elderly who need help paying rent expenses to have a roof over their heads. The landlord will agree to accept the voucher as payment for rent.
The tenant will pay a small amount towards the rent each month. This is an ongoing process until the landlord agrees to terminate it or until they no longer need it. Most landlords require a credit check before accepting these vouchers as payment for rental expenses. This can be a problem if you have bad credit for past mistakes.
11. Kansas Low-Income Housing Program
It is another program that offers affordable housing units to qualified low-income families or individuals who earn less than 50% of the median household income in Kansas.
The higher your household’s median income, the lower the percentage you need to make each year. These affordable housing units are scattered throughout several counties across Kansas.
This is where you will find them: Johnson County (Lenexa), Douglas County (Lawrence), Wyandotte County (Kansas City), Jackson County (Wichita), Leavenworth County (Leavenworth), and Miami County. To apply for this program, contact the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, as this is the agency administering this program.
