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Kentucky’s LIHEAP Crisis Program: Applications Open January 7 – March 15, 2025

FRANKFORT, Ky. (January 6, 2025): Kentucky’s Community Action Agencies (CAK) are set to begin accepting applications for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Crisis component from January 7 until March 15, 2025, on a first-come, first-serve basis.

This program assists eligible households facing a home heating emergency, such as imminent loss of heat, low fuel supply, or eviction due to unpaid utility bills. Households must meet eligibility requirements, including income eligibility of up to and including 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Prior LIHEAP assistance does not impact a household’s eligibility.

Crisis benefits will cover the minimum needed to alleviate the crisis not to exceed the Community Action Agency’s local cost for a deliverable supply of the household’s primary heating fuel or $400 for gas or electric. Households can reapply each time they experience a crisis until they reach their maximum benefit. Benefits are paid directly to the fuel vendor.

Kentucky’s Community Action Network collectively operates outreach offices in all 120 Kentucky counties. To apply, contact your local Community Action Agency office or call 800-456-3452. Visit www.capky.org/network to find the nearest office.

All applicants will be required to supply the following documentation at the time of application:

Proof of Social Security Number or Permanent Residence card (Green Card) for each member of the household.
Proof of all household’s (all members) income from the preceding month.
Most current electric bill, statement from your landlord if electric is included in your rent, statement from utility company if you participate in a Pre-Pay Electric Program.
The account number and name on the account for main heating fuel sources and electric bill.

For the Crisis component, applicants requiring assistance for natural gas or electric must bring a disconnect/past due notice. If your rent includes heat, bring a copy of your lease and eviction notice. Pre-Pay Electric Program participants must show they have 10 days or less of pre-paid electric service.

Community Action Kentucky administers LIHEAP in partnership with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services who receive the funding as a pass-through block grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information about LIHEAP, including contact information for all local Community Action agencies, please visit the Community Action Kentucky website at www.CAPKY.org.

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About Community Action Kentucky

Community Action Kentucky is the statewide association representing and assisting the 23 Community Action agencies across Kentucky that work to empower individuals and families to attain greater economic stability and long-term success. With a presence in all 120 Kentucky counties, Community Action agencies provide life-changing resources and programs to support a wide array of service areas, including food security, transportation, home energy, early childhood education, senior support, emergency services, housing assistance, workforce development, youth enrichment and more. As a statewide voice for local agencies, Community Action Kentucky works to address policy issues that impact low-income individuals and cultivates broad-reaching partnerships that improve the lives of thousands of Kentuckians, making it possible for them to achieve their goals. For more information about Community Action Kentucky, visit www.CAPKY.org.

CAK 2025 Annual Conference: Call for Session Proposal

CAK is excited to announce that we are accepting session proposals for the 2025 Community Action Kentucky Annual Conference. The conference is scheduled for June 10-12, 2025, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington/UK Coldstream in Lexington, KY.

We invite you to submit session proposals using this online form. All submitters will be notified of their proposal’s status, whether accepted or denied, by February 1, 2025.

Please note that all submissions will require the following:

Session Information: This includes the title, focus area, and other relevant details about your proposed session.
Session Summary: 35-word description that will appear on the conference program website and app.
Session Description: A 250-word description of your session, including a summary of the topic and of the information, takeaways, benefits, or lessons that you expect attendees to gain.

We welcome presentations on any topic of interest to the Community Action Network, including but not limited to: Aging, CSBG, Case Management and Family Support, Head Start, Housing, Information Technology, Leadership, Organizational Management, Program Management, Transportation, and Workforce Development.

Community Action Kentucky Affirms Its Core Values

Join us at CAK as we continue to strive for equality, dignity, and respect for all. Our values assert, “We believe that all people should be treated with dignity and respect and recognize that structural race, gender and other inequities remain barriers that must be addressed.” Community Action Kentucky affirms that there is no place for racism in our communities. We commit ourselves to the well-being of every individual and reject acts of hate. We denounce all forms of violence and any acts that dehumanize anyone. We echo the words in the Community Action Promise, “We care about the entire community”.

The Community Action Promise states: “Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.”

We stand in solidarity with our Board Chair, Catrena Bowman, who recently experienced a reprehensible act of hate. We want to affirm that Community Action Kentucky condemns this act and any form of racism or hate. We believe in treating all people with dignity and respect, and we recognize that structural race, gender, and other inequities remain barriers that must be addressed. We echo the words in the Community Action Promise, “We care about the entire community”.

In response, Catrena Bowman wrote this piece: Targeted with hate message, I ask ‘is this the community we want?

We are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other, and we will continue to work tirelessly to make our community a safe and inclusive place for everyone.

Community Action Kentucky Appoints Rick Baker as New Executive Director

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 14, 2024) – As part of its ongoing commitment to building and strengthening the network of Kentucky’s Community Action Agencies, Community Action Kentucky (CAK) is pleased to announce Rick Baker, as its new Executive Director, effective June 3, 2024.

Catrena Bowman, CAK’s Board Chair, shared her excitement about Baker’s appointment saying, “The board of directors are excited to announce the hiring of Rick Baker as Community Action Kentucky’s (CAK) new Executive Director. Rick has worked for many years in the Community Action Network and is a Certified Community Action Professional. He is the former Executive Director of LKLP Community Action Council and is currently serving as the 1^st Vice-Chair on the National Community Action Partnership board. We are all looking forward to seeing the direction Rick takes our state association.”

Rick Baker, a seasoned professional in the Community Action Network, expressed his enthusiasm about his new role, stating, “I am deeply honored to be selected to help lead Community Action in Kentucky. I have spent 34 years in service to Community Action and I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of the first executive director of Community Action Kentucky, the late Jesse Amburgey. I am committed to maintaining the high level of excellence that Community Action provides to the citizens of our Commonwealth, especially to help alleviate the distress of poverty. For the past 60 years Community Action has helped people and changed lives. I look forward to helping our 23 Community Action Agencies continue this great work for the next 60 years!”

As Executive Director, Baker will oversee the strategic direction of CAK, working closely with the Board of Directors, staff, and community partners to ensure the continued growth and success of Kentucky’s Community Action Network. His leadership will play a crucial role in shaping the future of Community Action in Kentucky, driving innovative strategies to combat poverty, mobilizing resources, and fostering community engagement and leadership development across its network of 23 Community Action Agencies.

For more information about CAK and the 23 CAAs in Kentucky, visit https://www.capky.org/.

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About Community Action Kentucky

Community Action Kentucky is the statewide association representing and assisting all 23 Community Action agencies across Kentucky that work to empower individuals and families to attain greater economic stability and improved health outcomes. With a presence in all 120 Kentucky counties, Community Action agencies provide life-changing resources and programs to support a wide array of service areas, including food security, transportation, home energy, early childhood education, senior support, emergency services, housing assistance, workforce development, youth enrichment and more. As a statewide voice for local agencies, Community Action Kentucky works to address policy issues that impact low-income individuals and cultivates broad-reaching partnerships that improve the lives of thousands of Kentuckians, making it possible for them to achieve their goals. For more information about Community Action Kentucky, visit www.CAPKY.org.

Kentucky’s Community Action Network Celebrates 60 Years of Community Action

Empowering Individuals and Families across the Commonwealth

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 1, 2024) – Imagine a Kentucky where every individual and family has the resources they need to thrive. That is the vision that has fueled 60 years of Community Action.

May is designated as Community Action Month, a time to celebrate our collective mission of empowering individuals and families to attain greater economic stability and long-term success. Kentucky’s Community Action Agencies have been a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people annually, providing life-changing resources.

Community Action Agencies were established as part of President Lyndon B Johnson’s War on Poverty. What makes these agencies special is their use of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), a federal grant program designed to combat poverty at the local level. The CSBG network includes over 1,000 agencies across the country.

Kentucky’s Community Action Network is comprised of 23 agencies, who collectively serve all 120 counties. CAAs offer a comprehensive range of services. These include food security, transportation, home energy, early childhood education, senior support, emergency services, housing, workforce development, and family advocacy.

As we celebrate this legacy, we also look to the future, renewing our commitment to serve Kentucky communities through our 23 CAAs and empower individuals and families to build better lives.

In honor of this milestone, we invite all Kentuckians to share their stories of how Community Action has positively impacted their lives or communities on our Facebook page @ComActionKY. Your experiences help highlight the invaluable work of our agencies and inspire others to engage with and support our mission.