Project Help is a long-time program at Okanogan County PUD, funded entirely by donations from our customers. The fund goes to customers experiencing a sudden, unexpected circumstance that makes paying their bills difficult.
The program is designed to serve those who can’t be served by other programs, or who have exhausted their use of other programs, such as DSHS programs or LIHEAP. Sometimes the person Project Help serves doesn’t even qualify for those programs.
The criteria: experiencing a sudden serious illness or death, major hospitalization or an unexpected reduction of income; income must not exceed 80 percent of the area median income. Priority is given to those in urgent need and those who are 65 years and older.
Right now, we may need Project Help more than ever. So this column serves two purposes:
- For those who can, please donate to Project Help, even if it’s just a few dollars. You can do this on your paper bill, or by sending in a check or money order designated to Project Help (mail or dropbox).
- If you need assistance and you aren’t sure how you’re going to pay your bill, please call us, or call Community Action, our partner in administering Project Help, at 509-422-4041. At this time, Community Action continues to serve the community by phone or email only, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday.