Guernsey County Department of Job and Family Services - PRC Program

For those Guernsey County residents living at or near poverty level, unplanned expenses can pose disaster if there are inadequate savings or credit to attain the necessary resources to meet the demands. PRC is a group of emergency and short-term assistance programs to help families with dependent children while encouraging self-sufficiency. The need may be necessary for the health, safety and well being of the family, to prevent them from coming onto Ohio Works First, or to help gain or retain employment. The program helps households in need without assuming the total household financial responsibility for the unplanned expense. Eligibility: 1. There must be a child or a pregnant woman present in the household to qualify. A child is defined as a minor under the age of eighteen years, or under age nineteen, if the child is still enrolled in high school. An assistance group is defined as those persons who reside together within a dwelling, regardless of their legal or familial relationship to each other. 2. All income received within the household is considered countable for PRC purposes. The only deduction from income will be for child support paid for a child outside the home. Eligibility will be determined by totaling ALL income to the household within the past 30 days. Gross income (before taxes) must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. 3. The need should be emergent, unforeseeable and unavoidable. It is expected that the household's resources (cash on hand, savings accounts, etc) will be used prior to or in conjunction with PRC assistance. All available community resources must be explored and whenever possible, utilized first for the need.

PRC include: Natural gas, Propane gas, Electric service, Coal/wood, Heating fuel oil/kerosene, Trash removal service – property cleanup – not normal weekly pickup services, Water/sewer service, Telephone service – basic local services only – applicant must demonstrate the need and extenuating circumstances – there must be no other community resources available, Home mortgage (maximum of $2000.00), Homeowner insurance, Real Estate Taxes – must be residing in the home. Court action for foreclosure required, Utility bill – disconnect notice required - address must be applicant’s place of residence, be incurred during period of residence and applicant must be responsible to pay the utility; Rent or lease for housing/sec.deposit rent only, Other utilities or related service charge – never includes cable; Employment related expenses including testing fees, work related uniforms, interview attire, work boots/shoes for individuals who are registered job seekers with Ohio Means Job Guernsey or FAET/OWF work required, Bed Bug Extermination, Intensive Probation Services, Automobile Repair, etc.