Community Assistance Program (CAP) - Formerly Tribal Social Services

Forms and applications:

Accessible by clicking on the form name

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CAP)

The Community Assistance Program (CAP), formerly known as Tribal Social Services, provides limited financial assistance for eligible community needs. CAP is a program within the Quechan Indian Tribe Social Services Department and is separate from the Department's other programs and services.

Available assistance may include Food, Hygiene, Rental, Utility, and Medical Assistance, subject to eligibility requirements, available allotments, required documentation, and applicable program guidelines.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

A Community Assistance Application must be completed by the individual requesting assistance.

ALL REQUIRED PORTIONS OF THE APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED AND ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION MUST BE PROVIDED BEFORE AN APPLICATION IS CONSIDERED COMPLETE.

An incomplete application does not begin the CAP processing timeframe and WILL NOT BE PROCESSED!

Applicants submitting an online application must provide a valid email address and telephone number. Email will be CAP's primary method of communicating missing information or documentation for online applications.

If an application is incomplete, CAP will contact the applicant as soon as reasonably possible, with the goal of providing notice within one (1) business day during normal business operations.

The official processing timeframe begins when CAP receives the complete application and all required supporting documentation.

Applicants should review the Community Assistance Checklist before submitting an application.

PROCESSING TIMEFRAMES

CAP PROCESSING TIME DOES NOT BEGIN UNTIL A COMPLETE APPLICATION AND ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.

Submitting an application does not, by itself, establish the processing date.

If information or required documentation is missing, the processing timeframe begins only after the missing items have been received and the application is complete.

February through June and August through December

Local Pickup: Up to five (5) business days

Checks Requiring Mailing: Approximately seven (7) to ten (10) business days

January and July – New Allotment Months

January and July are the months in which the first and second CAP allotment periods open. Due to the increased volume of applications during these months, extended processing timeframes apply:

Local Pickup: Approximately seven (7) to ten (10) business days

Checks Requiring Mailing: Up to fourteen (14) business days

For purposes of CAP processing timeframes, BUSINESS DAYS are regular workdays and do not include weekends, Tribal holidays, or other days Tribal offices are closed.

Processing timeframes allow for CAP review and processing, documentation review, vendor verification when necessary, Finance processing, check preparation, mailing, vendor receipt, and vendor processing or posting of payment.

Applicants are responsible for submitting requests with sufficient time to allow for normal processing.

Submitting an application shortly before a rent deadline, utility shutoff date, medical appointment, or other deadline does not automatically create an emergency or require CAP to interrupt normal application processing.

Emergency or expedited requests will be reviewed according to applicable CAP procedures and the individual circumstances of the request.

FOOD ASSISTANCE

Food Assistance provides limited emergency assistance for eligible food needs.

Assistance is based on the number of persons in the household at a rate of $50.00 per person, not to exceed $200.00.

Applicants requesting Food Assistance must submit:

• A completed Community Assistance Application; and
• Current government-issued photo identification.

Food Assistance may be requested up to two (2) times per calendar year, subject to applicable allotment periods, eligibility requirements, and available funding.

HYGIENE ASSISTANCE

Hygiene Assistance provides limited assistance for eligible hygiene needs in accordance with applicable CAP guidelines and available allotments.

Assistance is based on the number of persons in the household at a rate of $50.00 per person, not to exceed $100.00.

Applicants requesting Hygiene Assistance must submit:

• A completed Community Assistance Application; and
• Current government-issued photo identification.

Hygiene Assistance may be requested up to two (2) times per calendar year, subject to applicable allotment periods, eligibility requirements, and available funding.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE

Rental Assistance provides a portion of assistance for qualifying residential rental needs, not to exceed $300.00, subject to applicable program requirements.

Rental requests may include payment to an eligible landlord/vendor or, when appropriate, an approved hotel stay.

Landlord/Vendor Payment

Applicants requesting Rental Assistance for a landlord/vendor payment must submit:

• A completed Community Assistance Application;
• Current government-issued photo identification;
• A legally binding rental agreement signed by the landlord and renter; and
• A current W-9 for the landlord/vendor receiving payment, unless the vendor is already established and current within the Tribe's financial system.

Rental Assistance is not available for a rental down payment or deposit.

Hotel Stay

Applicants requesting assistance for a hotel stay must submit:

• A completed Community Assistance Application;
• Current government-issued photo identification;
• Must not be on any of the hotel banned lists; and
• Information or documentation sufficient to identify the circumstances requiring the hotel stay.

Approved hotel stays requiring immediate placement may be considered for expedited processing when appropriate.

Rental Assistance may be requested up to two (2) times per calendar year, subject to applicable allotment periods, eligibility requirements, and available funding.

UTILITY ASSISTANCE

Utility Assistance provides a portion of assistance toward eligible electric, water, sewer, or other qualifying utility expenses, not to exceed $250.00.

Applicants requesting Utility Assistance must submit:

• A completed Community Assistance Application;
• Current government-issued photo identification; and
• A current utility bill identifying the utility company, account holder name, and applicable account number.

Utility Assistance is paid directly to the applicable utility vendor and is not available for a utility down payment or deposit.

Applicants should submit requests sufficiently in advance of shutoff dates or other deadlines to allow for normal processing.

Utility Assistance may be requested up to two (2) times per calendar year, subject to applicable allotment periods, eligibility requirements, and available funding.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

Medical Assistance provides limited assistance for qualifying out-of-area medical appointments, medical travel, and eligible medical emergencies.

• The applicant must be the patient or must identify their familial relationship to the patient. Eligible relationships are limited to:
• Mother, Father, Legal Guardian,
• Sister, Brother,
• Son, Daughter, or
• Significant Other
• Medical Assistance may not exceed $300.00 per approved request.
• Assistance may be used for eligible travel-related expenses associated with an approved out-of-area medical appointment, including food, fuel, and lodging.
• CAP may provide assistance for up to four (4) qualifying out-of-town medical appointments per calendar year.
• Requests for reimbursement for past medical appointment dates will not be accepted.
• Applicants must submit their request and required documentation sufficiently in advance of the scheduled appointment to allow for applicable processing timeframes.
• A separate Medical Assistance Application is no longer required. Medical Assistance is requested through the Community Assistance Application.
• Applicants must first attempt to obtain available transportation through Contract Health Services (CHS).
• When applicable, documentation showing that CHS transportation was unavailable or denied must be provided.
• Medical appointments are subject to verification by the Community Assistance Program.

Applicants requesting Medical Assistance must provide:

• A completed Community Assistance Application.
• Current government-issued photo identification.
• A medical appointment slip, letter, or other documentation confirming the appointment, medical facility, date, and location.
• Information identifying the location of the requested medical travel.
• When applicable, documentation showing that available medical transportation services were attempted and were unavailable or denied.
• For a medical emergency, documentation sufficient to identify the urgency or severity of the circumstances when appropriate.

CAP may contact the medical provider or facility to verify the appointment and information necessary to process the request.

SERIOUS MEDICAL SITUATION – IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER

This line item may also be used for travel assistance when an applicant has an eligible immediate family member currently admitted to an out-of-town hospital or medical facility due to serious medical issues.

• Eligible immediate family relationships are limited to Mother, Father, Legal Guardian, Sister, Brother, Son, Daughter, or Significant Other.
• Assistance is at the discretion of the Tribal President or Vice President.
• Assistance may not exceed $300.00.
• The location and length of the travel period may be considered when determining assistance.
• No assistance will be awarded after the patient has been discharged.

MEDICAL RECEIPTS

• Receipts associated with approved Medical Assistance must be returned to CAP within five (5) business days following the expenditure or completion of the approved travel.
• Failure to return required receipts may affect eligibility for additional Community Assistance until applicable receipt requirements have been satisfied.

MEDICAL ASSISTANCE LIMITATIONS

• Medical Assistance is intended for qualifying medical travel and related eligible expenses.
• CAP does not provide Medical Assistance for after-care supplies or medications.
• A regularly scheduled medical appointment does not, by itself, constitute a medical emergency.
• Qualifying medical emergencies may be reviewed for expedited processing based on the circumstances of the request and applicable CAP procedures.

Receipts associated with approved Medical Assistance must be returned to CAP within five (5) business days following the expenditure or completion of the approved travel.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

Before submitting your application:

• Completely fill out all required portions of the Community Assistance Application.
• Review the Community Assistance Checklist.
• Include all documentation required for the type of assistance requested.
• Provide a valid email address and telephone number.
• Submit your request sufficiently in advance of any applicable deadline.

Incomplete applications do not begin the CAP processing timeframe.

For questions regarding the Community Assistance Program or an application, please contact:

Community Liaison – Savannah Miller
communityliaison@quechantribe.com

Community Liaison Assistant – Teresa Valenzuela
assistantliaison@quechantribe.com