American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Overview
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th, 2009. It is an unprecedented effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Act is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression, and includes measures to modernize our nation's infrastructure, enhance energy independence, expand educational opportunities, preserve and improve affordable health care, provide tax relief, and protect those in greatest need.
Two of CSD’s existing programs will receive significant new funding through the Recovery Act:
• The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (DOE WAP)
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
WEATHERIZATION
The purpose of DOE WAP is to increase the energy efficiency of homes owned or occupied by low-income Californians, reduce the amount these families spend on energy, and improve their health and safety. Preference is given to low-income people who are particularly at risk, such as the elderly, disabled, families with children, and those who use a lot of energy.
The significant investment in DOE WAP through the Recovery Act also represents the Obama administration’s efforts to create and sustain jobs during this economic crisis, and to decrease our national dependence on foreign oil.
CSD will receive $185 million in DOE WAP funding under the Recovery Act.
COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
The CSBG program is a nationwide network of community action agencies. These are the NON Profits. These agencies fight poverty by providing services that help low-income people get the skills, knowledge, and motivation they need to become self-sufficient. The CSBG program also provides low-income people with immediate life necessities such as food, shelter, health care and more.
Working in partnership with other local providers, community action agencies spend their federal CSBG dollars in their local communities to meet the unique needs of the low-income people they serve.
CSD will receive $89 million in CSBG ARRA funding under the Recovery Act, 99% of the CSBG ARRA allocation will be “passed through’ to the CSBG eligible entities. The Recovery Act requires States receiving CSBG ARRA funds to retain 1% of its allocation for benefit enrollment and coordination activities.
http://www.csd.ca.gov/Recovery/Recovery.aspx