LIHEAP, a federally funded program, assists residents with their gas, electricity, oil, wood, and propane costs

Puget Sound Energy HELP provides assistance with the cost of natural gas and electricity consumption to qualified PSE customers—with an account in their name or in the name of a member of the household

The program begins in the fall and continues until all funds are committed. Due to limited funding, we are unable to serve everyone who is in need of these services, so do not hesitate to call if you believe you may be eligible. See eligibility requirements below.

Those who are low-income and need assistance paying their energy bill are eligible to receive this service.

To further determine eligibility we look at:

• Household Size
• Income
• Heat Source
• Previous year’s energy usage

See below if your household may be income eligible for heating assistance through the LIHEAP programs or income eligible for assistance through the PSE-HELP program.

Our policy is to make appointments over the phone or through our website scheduler. To be fair in applying, we do not accept requests for appointments by email, voicemail, or fax. Due to the high volume of people in need trying to access these services, it is imperative to process all applicants fairly and equally. Please remember appointments are made on a first come, first served basis.

+ Note that our phone lines become extremely busy when we first start scheduling appointments due to the large volume of people calling in. The phone lines are consistently in use during this process.

• Calls are processed in the order they are received to the best of our system’s capabilities.
• Please show patience, as well as persistence, when calling to schedule.
• When you are on HOLD, please do not hang up– as you will lose your spot in line to speak to a representative.
• It is not uncommon to experience HOLD times of 15-20 minutes, sometimes longer.

We strongly encourage people not to give up calling if there is a busy signal; eventually, you can get through.

To schedule an appointment, please call on one of our opening dates and have the following ready:

• Pen and paper
• Electric and/or natural gas account number
• Last 4 digits of the social security number of whomever is scheduling the appointment
• Physical/residential address
• Gross household income for three previous months

NOTE: due to the pandemic, all applications are being handled via mail, and we are not conducting any in-office appointments. Please call 360.438.1100 if you have further questions.

• Social Security cards for everyone in the home. This includes children who are one to seventeen years old. (Please Note: Infants who are under that age of one do not need Social Security cards)
• Current (Non-Expired) Photo Identification
• Address Verification
• Verification of all sources of income/monies received by every household member for the three previous months from the time of your appointment. For example, if your appointment date is in July, please bring in April, May, and June verification.
• A current heat bill or proof of your heat source. If your heat source is propane, oil, pellets, or firewood and you do not have a vendor who provides you with a bill go to: Forms à Energy à and use the Heat Source Statement for proof of heat source.
• Qualified Alien Documentation to receive Federal services and benefits, if applicable.

We cannot use previously submitted documentation to qualify clients for a benefit, including Social Security cards and drivers licenses. Please bring all required documentation at the time of your appointment.

* Anyone with zero ‘0’ income and who is 18 or older is required to complete paperwork explaining how he/she paid for food, shelter, and heat at the time of appointment

** If you are a student, your Financial Aid award letter is required.

The Eviction Rent Assistance Program (ERAP) is intended to prevent evictions by paying past due, current, due and future rent, targeting limited resources to those with the greatest needs while working to distribute the funds equitably.

The goals of the program are:

• Prevent evictions
• Target limited resources to people most likely to become homeless after eviction
• Target limited resources to people most likely to suffer severe health consequences as a result of the eviction
• Promote equity in who is served, with a focus on equity for groups of people who historically have not been provided equitable access to rent assistance and those who have disproportionately been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak: Latinx or Hispanic, young adults, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander.

Eligibility: 

Households must meet two initial screening criteria:

• Current Income (over last 60 days) at or below 80% of Area Median Income
• At least one month of rent not paid or partially unpaid since March 1, 2020

Households must also meet at least one of the following additional criteria (any member of the household):

• 50% or more of current monthly income is needed to pay rent
• Previously homeless within last five years (this includes experiences of couch surfing/double up)
• Eviction history within last seven years
• Housing disrupted due to household member race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or religion
• At risk of severe illness as per the CDC (62 or older, underlying condition)
• Disability of any household member. (Includes a physical, developmental, mental, or emotional impairment, including impairment caused by alcohol or drug abuse, PTSD, brain injury, HIV/AIDS)

If head of household is 18 – 24 years old, additional criteria can be used to determine eligibility:

• Pregnant or parenting
• Recipient (current or past) from any one of the following: foster care, adoption, mental health, drug or alcohol treatment, court systems

United States citizenship is NOT an eligibility requirement of this program.

Documentation Questions for each Household:

• Number of people in the household
• Income from the last 60 days
• Address
• Rent amount / lease agreement
• Amount of rent owed (past, current, or future)
• Information pertaining to screen criteria (above)
• Landlord or Friend/Family Payment Agreement Form
• Landlord signature on HIE Form
• W9 from landlord or friend/family

Contact information:
Call: (360) 438-1100  Press 8 for Housing / Press 2 for Housed Services
Check us out on Facebook

Resources: 

• Washington State Department of Commerce Guidelines and Documents 
• Thurston Co PHSS Press Release Aug2020
• ERAP Landlord Flyer (Final)
• ERAP Providers Flyer (Final)
• 프로그램 세부 정보
• Detalles del programa
• Chi tiết chương trình

Supportive housing services are ongoing supports to help eligible Medicaid clients find and keep stable, independent housing. Services include:

• Housing assessments.
• Identifying housing resources.
• Support obtaining a lease.
• Independent living skills development.
• Landlord relations.
• Crisis management.

Supportive employment services are assistance for those who are eligible to obtain and keep a job. Services includes:

• Vocational/job-related discovery or assessment.
• Planning for employment.
• Job placement, development and coaching.
• Skills-building for negotiating with prospective employers. The supported employment benefit will not cover or supplement a client’s wages.

FCS is not:

• Ongoing payments for housing, rent, or room and board costs.
• Wages or wage enhancements for clients.
• An entitlement.

In order to be eligible for Supportive Housing services, individuals must be Medicaid-eligible, complete a needs assessment and fall into at least one of the groups described below.

• Individuals experiencing chronic homelessness as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Those dependent on costly institutional care.
• Those dependent on more restrictive adult residential care/treatment settings.
• In-home care recipients with complex needs.
• Those at highest risk for expensive care and negative outcomes.

In order to be eligible for Supportive Employment services, individuals must be Medicaid-eligible, complete a needs assessment and fall into at least one of the groups described below.

• Individuals enrolled in the Aged, Blind or Disabled program
• Individuals enrolled in the Housing and Essential Needs program
• Individuals diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness, substance use disorder (SUD), or co-occurring mental illness and SUD.
• People who are receiving long-term services and supports.
• Vulnerable youth age 16 and older with a behavioral health condition.

Our policy is to make appointments over the phone. Please call your respective county office to make an appointment with a Foundational Community Supports Case Manager.

LEWIS: 360-736-1800

MASON: 360-426-9726

THURSTON: 360-438-1100

Please bring your Medicaid insurance card and your Photo ID with you to your appointment.

Grant funds may provide eligible participants with rent, utility and transportation assistance as well as hygiene and cleaning supplies.

To qualify, the applicant must have an incapacity, (physical and/or mental) AND have zero income.

Qualifications for the HEN program is determined by DSHS (Department of Social and Health Services.) Qualifying applicants will then be referred to the Community Action Council for services to help stabilize housing related needs.

For more information about eligibility and services, please visit their website.

The Weatherization Program delivered by the Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties receives its funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce. It includes federal funds from the Bonneville Power Association, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the state-funded Energy Match Makers Program. Additional funding comes through partnerships with local utilities, such as Puget Sound Energy (PSE), and other contributions so that these services may be delivered to you free of charge.

Affordable housing is defined as a home that takes no more than 30% of the household’s income for rent or mortgage and utilities. Many low-income families in Washington pay more than 25 % of their income for energy costs alone. Weatherization programs exist to help low-income households reduce home energy consumption while increasing the health, safety, comfort, and longevity of their homes.

Weatherization is the application of energy efficiency measures to a home. These may include:

• Air sealing measures
  • Weather-stripping and caulking
  • Insulation measures to ceiling, wall, and floor areas
  • Related repair measures
• Health and Safety Issues
  • Indoor air quality
  • Heating system repairs

Each home is unique to what it needs. A trained energy assessor/inspector will visit your home to determine exactly what work your home may need. Measures are installed according to established technical specifications, cost effectiveness tests, and applicable building codes using CAC crews and specialty contractors.

*Note that general window replacement is not a priority measure and may not qualify under the free program.

Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties’ Weatherization Program is available to qualified families throughout Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties according to funding availability.

To qualify, the gross income received by all household members must be at or below 60% state or 200% of the current federally established poverty guidelines—whichever is greater. Income documentation and evaluation is required to determine actual eligibility. The homeowner will be required to sign all authorization forms if determined eligible for assistance.

Homes that are severely deteriorated and require extensive repairs may be ruled “beyond the scope of the program” and, therefore, ineligible for weatherization and minor home repair service.

Helpful links

United States Department of Agriculture: www.rd.usda.gov/

Housing Authority of Thurston County: www.hatc.org

*Information on how to become a weatherization contractor for CACLMT: Weatherization ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS 2020.

Please click here for more information regarding Grants supporting our Weatherization Program.

Further income documentation testing is required to determine actual eligibility.  Guidelines are revised annually. If your household appears close to qualifying, please contact CAC at (360) 438-1100 to speak to a CAC representative.To qualify for weatherization services, the gross income received by all household members must be at or below 200% of the federally-established poverty guidelines or 60% of State median income. Priority will be given to the households with income at or below the 125% level.

Click here for more information.

As you may have read, the Governor has announced the new COVID “Washington Ready” plan, which states “All industry sectors previously covered by the Roadmap to Recovery or the Safe Start plan (with the limited exceptions) may return to usual capacity and operations”.


According to the Washington State COVID website, all Healthy Washington return to work documents are no longer in force. This includes the construction industry document which we based our original COVID work plans on, as well as work plan guides for other industries which you may have used to guide your work such as professional services, personal services, and real estate. These guides are still available and optional for use per the Washington Ready plan.


As of July 1, 2021, we are no longer requiring agencies follow their original COVID-19 Protection Protocols. Agencies can still use whatever COVID protocols they feel are needed in their region.


Agencies must continue to protect their employees. Accordingly, Labor and Industry (L&I) maintains jurisdiction over workplace safety and may engage in COVID-related investigations and enforcement actions to protect employees. Agencies must follow all L&I guidance including the following:

• Workplace Hazard
• Face Coverings
• High Risk Workers