PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – Pekin-based Tazwood Community Services has opened a new location in Peoria after Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity, or PCCEO, announced it would no longer be receiving state funds to provide Peoria County residents with LIHEAP and other public services.
PCCEO lost its LIHEAP and Community Block Grant funding in August. Their weatherization program was cut years earlier.
Tazwood Community Services’ new office in Peoria is located at 7625 N. University Street.
The agency has assumed responsibility for three state-funded programs from PCCEO: LIHEAP, weatherization, and the Employment Barrier Reduction Program.
Tazwood’s Manager Crystal Breweur tells 25 News that they expect to serve 10,000 clients in Peoria County alone this year, which is why finding a location in Peoria County was so important.
“[People] need to have accessibility to come in here, make it easy for them,” Breweur said.
Breweur says seniors, people with disabilities, and households with children under the age of five can begin applying for LIHEAP on October 1. Those with emergency needs, like having their power shut off, can also apply on that date. Everyone else can apply on November 1.
Tazwood Community Services will begin scheduling appointments in Peoria on September 24 by phone.
“If somebody schedules an appointment, they can do a phone appointment and either mail, fax, or upload their documents to us,” Breweur said.
To learn more about eligibility, go to the agency’s website.
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