Federal Poverty Guidelines
The Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) are income thresholds issued each year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They are used nationwide to determine whether individuals and families may qualify for certain public benefits, assistance programs, and services.
Click below to view the Federal Poverty Guidelines
Click here to view our programs
How the Poverty Guidelines Relate to Our Programs
​Many of the programs listed below use the Federal Poverty Guidelines as a starting point for determining eligibility. Programs may:
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Require household income to be at or below a certain percentage of the poverty guidelines (for example, 150% or 200%)
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Use the guidelines to prioritize services for households with the greatest financial need
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Apply the guidelines as one factor among several, along with residency, age, disability status, or other criteria
Community Service Block Grant
The Community Service Block Grant of 1981 authorizes the specific services administered through this federal block grant program, which is the cornerstone of family based services offered by MCCSA. Through case management, CSBG assists in solving real-life problems by enabling families to attain self-sufficiency. By addressing problems in the areas of income management, employment, education, health, housing and nutrition. The program serves a broad segment of the MCCSA target population ranging from adolescents to the elderly.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
This program assists low-income households having the “highest home energy needs” with energy related assistance and increase energy affordability. The program target vulnerable households with at least one young child, an individual with disabilities or a frail older person; and high-burden households having the lowest income and highest home energy costs.
Weatherization Assistance Program
These programs are designed to improve the condition of residential homes of eligible low-income citizens, especially the elderly, disabled and families with small children by addressing energy efficiency and health and safety measures. The programs reduce heating and cooling costs and increases energy efficiency of the homes. Eligible dwellings undergo a pre and post energy audit and various tests to determine the most cost effective measures to be installed in the dwellings by trained technicians. The home is monitored for twelve months to ensure the effectiveness of the measures installed.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
VITA is a volunteer program that assists eligible taxpayers in satisfying their tax responsibility by providing free tax return preparations. All volunteers are trained and certified to prepare taxes.
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Foster Grandparents Program
FGP affords older individuals 55 years and older, (an average of 20 hours per week), the opportunity to give one-on-one attention
to children with special needs in education settings. Our volunteers nurture growth, confidence, and developmental skills needed
in our children, while assisting the educators. Also, while improving the lives of the children, the services provided
strengthen communities and bridge proverbial “generational gaps”. The lives of the volunteers are enriched as well. The volunteer recognizes his or her own usefulness and has a re-enforced sense of purpose.
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Qualified applicants:
Must meet income-eligibility guidelines, be physically able to work, and are no longer engaged in the regular work force. United
Way of East Mississippi also assist with services provided in the FGP. United Way of East Mississippi financially supports the efforts
of the Foster Grandparent Program, making it possible to meet our goals.
Home Delivered Meals
The HDM program provides a daily nutritional well balanced meal to the elderly and/or disabled homebound individuals 60 years of
age or older. Its purpose is to assist in independent living, meaningful and dignified lives in the confinement of their own home. The program rely solely on its volunteers to deliver the meals. United Way of East Mississippi also assist with services provided in the
HDM Program. United Way of East Mississippi financially supports the efforts of the Home Delivered Meals Program, making it
possible to meet our goals.
Emergency Solutions Grant
This program works directly with the Frances W. Davidson Memorial Center for Homelessness and is designed to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness through (1) homelessness prevention which includes various types of assistance such as housing relocation and stabilization and short-term rental assistance to help avoid becoming homeless; and (2) rapid re-housing which assists people who are homeless to move quickly into permanent housing and achieve stability in that housing. United Way of East Mississippi financially supports the efforts of the FWD Memorial Center for Homelessness, making it possible to meet our goals.
Commodity Supplement Food Program
This program works to improve the health of low- income elderly persons at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA Foods.
The Riley Foundation
FWD Memorial Center for Homelessness
The Riley Foundation donates financial support to the FWD Center for Homelessness to provide assistance towards shelter operations and its clients.
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