Township Assistance

Services Provided

Applications are taken by appointment only! Please call the office to schedule an appointment.

PLEASE NOTE: The date your application is approved will be used as your start date for assistance. Upon the end of that 12th month period & at the 6th month point you will be asked to update your file with our office to ensure you still qualify for further assistance. You must notify our office within 15 days of any changes that are mad in your household. Failure to do so could result in no further assistance.

When the Trustee or staff determines an applicant is eligible for assistance, the Trustee may provide Township Assistance in one or more of the following areas in the most practical and economical manner. 

 Shelter Assistance

• • Applicant must find shelter themselves, and the landlord must agree to accept vouchers for rent.
  • The landlord must fill out a W-9 form and agree with our “Landlord Policy” before we can establish them as a vendor. Please note: Landlords that receive over $600 in rent from our office could receive a 1099-MISC at the end of the year.
  • Rent payments are limited. When the shelter assistance amount does not cover the entire rent amount the tenant is responsible for the owed amount. Tenants may receive help from other agencies.
  • Landlord must agree to not evict tenant for 60 days after receiving assistance from the Center Township Trustee and remove all late fees.
  • The Center Township Trustee is an emergency assistance. Therefore, we only assist with rent that is late and the grace period has passed.
  • We do not assist with first months rent or deposits for housing.
  • In certain circumstances, a Trustee approval may be given to assist outside the normal guidelines.

 Utility Assistance

• • Applicant must show that the bill is in his/ her name.
  • Applicant must show that the bill is for usage at the current address in Center Township.
  • Utility assistance will be provided in limited amounts. When utility assistance does not cover the entire amount, the applicant is responsible for the amount owed. Applicants may receive assistance from other agencies.
  • The Center Township Trustee is to be used for emergency circumstances. Therefore, we only assist when a utility bill is in “Disconnect” status.
  • No assistance will be provided if the applicant fails to utilize the EAP program when available. (I.C. 12-20-6-3}
  • No assistance will be given if applicant has not paid anything on the bill during EAP moratorium.
  In certain circumstances, the Trustee approval may be given to assist outside the normal guidelines.

Burial Assistance

THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR BURIALS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

• Applicant (deceased) must be a resident of Center Township, Vanderburgh County, Indiana. If the applicant has no current established residence, the Township responsible for the care of the indigent is based on where the individual passed away. In certain cases, the decedent’s residency overrides the place of death for establishing a township’s duties of care. See IC 12-20-16-12(b) for further explanation.
• The applicant must show that they are unable to provide the financial means for the basic necessity of a burial/cremation. A person may only receive assistance if a proper application has been completed and the Trustee has determined that the indigent person qualifies for township assistance and the basic necessity cannot otherwise, be provided.

AN APPLICATION FOR BURIAL/CREMATION CAN BE FILED BY ANY PERSON OR ENTITY WHO LEGALLY HAS AUTHORITY OR CONTROL OVER THE BODY OF THE DECENDENT. IN MOST CASES, THIS WILL BE A FAMILY MEMBER, BUT IT CAN BE THE HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME, COUNTY CORONER, OR A FUNERAL HOME THAT HAS CUSTODY OF THE BODY. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NEEDED TO COMPLETE THIS TYPE OF APPLICATION:

• Proof of the deceased applicant’s address showing a Center Township address.
• Invoice from the funeral home. (Must show the amount Center Township will pay)
• Approval or Denial from Indiana Medicaid (provided by the funeral home)
• Deceased applicant’s social security card / formal document stating the number from a federal document or a funeral home.
• Deceased applicant’s photo ID (if applicable)
• Photo ID of the person completing the application.

PLEASE NOTE:  Other documents may be requested by the staff to help determine eligibility.