Office to Ease Lines for Utility Help

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Shelby County Mayor Joe Ford announced a more streamlined method of accepting applications for energy assistance with the hopes of easing long lines and hours-long waits.

Due to the high demand for utility assistance, long lines have been forming for the past few weeks at the Shelby County Community Services Agency (CSA) office at Raleigh Springs Mall and the office at Winchester and Kirby Parkway. In some instances the lines have formed in the early morning hours, with people waiting for hours to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“We want utility assistance applications to be available to any citizen and we are changing the way we process applications to be more responsive and available to the public,” said Mayor Joe Ford. “There is no longer a need to see a counselor at CSA or to spend hours waiting in line.”

Mayor Ford announced that utility assistance applications will be made available at the Hickory Ridge Mall Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Citizens in need of utility assistance should come to the southwest entrance of the mall at any time during these hours. CSA staff members will distribute applications as well as receive completed applications. Completed applications for regular utility assistance will be processed within 10 days; applications for emergency assistance will be processed within 48 hours. Citizens will be mailed a letter after the application is processed.

“Many people believe that they must see a counselor in order to get help,” said Dottie Jones, Director of the Shelby County Division of Community Services. “In fact, we can process applications much faster if people will complete the paperwork and return it to us with the necessary documentation. It is much faster and simpler for our customers, and we are pleased to be able to distribute and receive applications at Hickory Ridge Mall.”

Jones stressed that the CSA offices at Raleigh Springs Mall and Kirby Parkway will not see clients in person. “We are asking the public not to line up at our locations because the staff will not see individual clients or process applications while clients wait. We are making the applications available at Hickory Ridge Mall in order to provide a safe environment for citizens and to make the process operate more smoothly.”

Applications and instructions for the utility assistance program will also be available on the Shelby County website at www.shelbycountytn.gov beginning Monday. Applications will also be available on the Memphis Light Gas & Water website at www.mlgw.com.