Mailing Address:  3 1/2 No. 35th St. Billings, MT  59101

Phone Number: (406)259-3111

Website: http://www.bigskyseniorservices.org/

Email Contact: dbarmstrong@bigskyseniorservices.org

Days of Operation: Monday – Friday

Mission: Senior Citizens deserve the right to live in their homes, safe and free from abuse. Regardless of their ability to pay, Big Sky Senior Services provides services that promote independence, enhance quality of life and prevent elder abuse.

Services: Provides in-home assistance such as housekeeping, in-home care and nursing services in northern Carbon County.

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 197 Joliet, MT  59041
Phone Number:  406-962-3800
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 9AM to 5PM

Area II Ombudsman Program: Advocate for individuals residing in Long  Term Care Facilities

Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 216 Joliet, MT  59041

Phone Number:  (406)962-3532

President:  Evelyn Hansen
Days of Meal Service: Thursday

Street Address: 1028 Coutts Ave. Red Lodge, MT 59068

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 371 Red Lodge, MT 59068

Phone Number: (406)818-2191

Contact Name: Bernie

Email: berniel02@yahoo.com

Eligibility: Low to moderate income families

Information: Mountain Springs Villa is a resident owned community of manufactured homes. Those interested in becoming residents will have to order their homes in advance. Five lots are currently available for purchase.

Information: EITC, the Earned Income Tax Credit,is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families.It was originally approved in 1975 by Congress in part to offset the burden of social security taxes and to provide an incentive to work. When EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit.

Website: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/EITC-Home-Page–It%E2%80%99s-easier-than-ever-to-find-out-if-you-qualify-for-EITC

Eligibility: Individuals earning less than $45,060 (or $50,270 if married and filing jointly) with additional some restrictions.

Maximum Credit: The maximum credit for tax year 2012 is $5,891.

Taxable earned income includes: Wages, salaries, tips, and other taxable employee pay; Union strike benefits; Long-term disability benefits received prior to minimum retirement age; Net earnings from self-employment if: You own or operate a business or a farm or You are a minister or member of a religious order; You are a statutory employee and have income.

Examples of Income that are Not Earned Income: Pay received for work while an inmate in a penal institution; Interest and dividends; Retirement income; Social security; Unemployment benefits; Alimony or Child support.

Special Note: Even if you don’t owe any tax or are not required to file, you must file a tax return in order to claim the credit.

Mailing Address: Red Lodge School Dist. #1 PO Box 1090, Red Lodge, MT 59068

Phone Number: 446-1676 or 425-0855.

Website: http://redlodge.schoolwires.com/Page/132

Program: The Red Lodge Adult Education program provides low cost classes for adults to learn new skills or complete a GED.

Fee: $35 dollar fee for classes and in some cases costs for supplies.

2013 GED Program Sign Up: January 14 and 15th at Red Lodge High School Commons for information call 446-1903

Phone Number: (800) 823-5995

Eligibility: NorthWestern Energy residential natural gas or electric space- or water-heating customer. Audit program is limited to homes five years or older with no E+ audit history. Schedule availability limited by funding and customer demand. These and other qualifications apply.

Service: Analysis of home energy usage and specialist information on how to make your home more energy efficient, rebates and incentives.

Free On-Site Energy Audit Includes: Energy usage survey, insulation evaluation, blower door test to detect areas of air leakage, water heater temperature check, refrigerator/freezer temperature check and gas equipment safety check.

After Audit Service: A customized report on your home’s energy usage, recommendation for better cost management, information on rebates for installation of qualifying energy efficiency measures like insulation, programmable thermostats, high-efficiency natural gas equipment and CFLS.

You may also be eligible for: free water heater, free hot water pipe insulation, free low-flow faucet aerators and shower-head, free compact fluorescent light CFL blubs and free air sealing materials.

Program Provider: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Street Address:  1629 Ave. D Building A Billings, MT 59102

Phone Number: (406)657-6297 ext 4

Fax Number: (406)657-6294

Website: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome

Area Contact: Gloria Hawkins (406)657-6297 gloria.hawkins@mt.usda.gov

Purpose: The Rural Rental Assistance (RA) program provides an additional source of support for households with incomes too low to pay the HCFP subsidized (basic) rent from their own resources. HCFP pays the owner of a multi-family housing complex the difference between the tenant’s contribution (30 percent of adjusted income) and the monthly rental rate.

Eligibility: Persons with very low and low incomes, the elderly, and persons with disabilities are eligible if they are unable to pay the basic monthly rent within 30 percent of adjusted monthly income. Very low income is defined as below 50 percent of the area median income (AMI); low income is between 50 and 80 percent of AMI; moderate income is established by adding $5,500 to the low-income limit.

Public Housing Agency Billings Office Address: 2415 1st Avenue N Billings MT 59101

Public Housing Agency Billings Office Phone:  (406)245-6391

Website: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/public_indian_housing/programs/hcv

Information: This program assists very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. Since housing assistance is provided on behalf of the family or individual, participants are able to find their own housing, including single-family homes, townhouses and apartments. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the program requirements.

Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies such as Public Housing Agency Billings Office. The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)to administer the voucher program.

A family that is issued a housing voucher is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of the family’s choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family’s present residence. Rental units must meet the PHA’s minimum standards of health and safety. A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the PHA on behalf of the participating family. The family then pays the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Under certain circumstances, if authorized by the PHA, a family may use its voucher to purchase a modest home.

Eligibility: In general, the family’s income may not exceed 50% of the median income for the county or metropolitan area in which the family chooses to live. By law, a PHA must provide 75 percent of its voucher to applicants whose incomes do not exceed 30 percent of the area median income. Median income levels are published by HUD and vary by location. To determine if your family is eligible contact the Billings Public Housing Agency.

To Apply: Application must be done through the local Public Housing Agency, in the case of Carbon County this is the Billings Office.
For more information contact the Public Housing Agency or see the full Housing Choice Vouchers Fact Sheet online.

Street Address: 2415 1st Avenue N. Billings MT 59101

Phone Number: (406)245-6391

Fax Number: (406)245-0387

Email: hablb@wtp.net

National Service Line: 1-800-955-2232

Information: The Public Housing Agency is under the Department of Housing and Urban Development and connects local persons with needed housing services.  If you need public housing assistance or would like specific information about public housing programs such as housing choice vouchers this is the office to contact.

Programs:

Housing Choice Vouchers

Public Housing Services

Rental Information Site