Hartford – Spring may be here, but many of us are still worried about those home-heating bills! Do you know how you will pay to heat your home this year? Will you have the financial resources to do so?
If you are worried about how you will pay these big monthly expenses, the Community Renewal Team (CRT) may be able to assist you with your home-heating costs!
Fortunately, the deadline for all eligible households to apply for the CT Energy Assistance Program has been extended to Tuesday, June 15, 2021!
CRT can help individuals and families complete the application by phone, email, or in-person at our multi-service center in Hartford located at 395 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford.
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program is available to both homeowners and renters living in Connecticut to help them cover their home-heating expenses during these difficult times.
CRT is encouraging everyone throughout the state of Connecticut to find out if they qualify for this FREE program.
Who qualifies to receive help from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program?
There are income eligibility requirements to qualify for the CT Energy Assistance Program, and the Community Renewal Team can help you check to see if you are qualified.
In fact, the income eligibility requirements, per household, are quite generous – there is no harm in checking to see if you qualify, and there’s no shame in using this important service!
According to the Connecticut Department of Social Services, decisions regarding eligibility are based on the number of people living in your household. Specifically, household size includes both homeowners and renters that pay separately for heat; AND renters whose heat is included in the rent, as long as more than 30% of gross income is paid towards rent.
For example:
- For a single person, the income level is up to $37,645.
- For two people in the home, the income level is up to $49,228.
- For a household of 4 people, the income level is up to $72,394.
So again, many more people may be qualified this year than previously thought possible – it is worth checking to find out!
What types of home-heating options are covered by the CT Energy Assistance Program?
For those who qualify for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, home-heating assistance pays for a household’s primary heating source, and this includes many different ways to heat your home. Heating sources include: oil, natural gas, electricity, propane, kerosene, coal, and even wood and wood pellets.
How do I apply for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program?
CRT maintains a call center with representatives ready to speak with individuals and help them complete their application over the phone. The call center representatives speak both English and Spanish.
If you live in Central Connecticut (i.e., Hartford County or Middlesex County), the fastest way to apply for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program is to call CRT’s Energy Assistance Hotline @ 860-560-5800.
NOTE: Due to COVID-19, ALL Applications can be taken over the phone – this is for the health and safety of both CRT’s staff, and for the individuals applying for Energy Assistance.
Outside of Central Connecticut, please call 2-1-1 to find the Community Action Agency that can assist you.
CRT’s hotline number is: 860-560-5800, and it is available 24-hours a day – if you leave a message, someone will get back to you!
You can also visit the Energy Assistance Page for more information.
For more information, please contact CRT’s Communications Director, Jason Black at 860-230-4535.
CRT Thanks Seven-Year-Old Superhero for His Act of Kindness
NewsSeven-year old Oscar started an organization to give back to others in need here in Connecticut. Specifically, he has been raising money to donate PPE to those that need these valuable supplies. On Wednesday, a large donation that he sent was given to the residents at CRT’s East Hartford Family Shelter.
Oscar calls his organization “Superheroes Are Found Everywhere” or “SAFE” for short, and he is truly a superhero to CRT!
Leslie Mayes from NBC Connecticut shared the story of this true act of kindness.
More details can be found in this story in the Hartford Courant.
You Can Still Apply for CT Energy Assistance Program; Deadline Extended to June 15
NewsGreat news for people living in Connecticut! The deadline to apply for the CT Energy Assistance Program is extended to Tuesday, June 15, 2021! The Community Renewal Team (CRT) can help individuals and families complete the application by phone, email, or in-person at our multi-service center in Hartford located at 395 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford.
CRT spoke with Kevin Nathan from NBC Connecticut about this important deadline extension, and how to apply for the program.
Featured photo by Dan LeFebvre on Unsplash.
Application Deadline for CT Energy Assistance Program Extended to June 15, 2021 – CRT Can Help You Apply Now
Press ReleaseHartford – Spring may be here, but many of us are still worried about those home-heating bills! Do you know how you will pay to heat your home this year? Will you have the financial resources to do so?
If you are worried about how you will pay these big monthly expenses, the Community Renewal Team (CRT) may be able to assist you with your home-heating costs!
Fortunately, the deadline for all eligible households to apply for the CT Energy Assistance Program has been extended to Tuesday, June 15, 2021!
CRT can help individuals and families complete the application by phone, email, or in-person at our multi-service center in Hartford located at 395 Wethersfield Ave., Hartford.
The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program is available to both homeowners and renters living in Connecticut to help them cover their home-heating expenses during these difficult times.
CRT is encouraging everyone throughout the state of Connecticut to find out if they qualify for this FREE program.
Who qualifies to receive help from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program?
There are income eligibility requirements to qualify for the CT Energy Assistance Program, and the Community Renewal Team can help you check to see if you are qualified.
In fact, the income eligibility requirements, per household, are quite generous – there is no harm in checking to see if you qualify, and there’s no shame in using this important service!
According to the Connecticut Department of Social Services, decisions regarding eligibility are based on the number of people living in your household. Specifically, household size includes both homeowners and renters that pay separately for heat; AND renters whose heat is included in the rent, as long as more than 30% of gross income is paid towards rent.
For example:
So again, many more people may be qualified this year than previously thought possible – it is worth checking to find out!
What types of home-heating options are covered by the CT Energy Assistance Program?
For those who qualify for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, home-heating assistance pays for a household’s primary heating source, and this includes many different ways to heat your home. Heating sources include: oil, natural gas, electricity, propane, kerosene, coal, and even wood and wood pellets.
How do I apply for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program?
CRT maintains a call center with representatives ready to speak with individuals and help them complete their application over the phone. The call center representatives speak both English and Spanish.
If you live in Central Connecticut (i.e., Hartford County or Middlesex County), the fastest way to apply for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program is to call CRT’s Energy Assistance Hotline @ 860-560-5800.
NOTE: Due to COVID-19, ALL Applications can be taken over the phone – this is for the health and safety of both CRT’s staff, and for the individuals applying for Energy Assistance.
Outside of Central Connecticut, please call 2-1-1 to find the Community Action Agency that can assist you.
CRT’s hotline number is: 860-560-5800, and it is available 24-hours a day – if you leave a message, someone will get back to you!
You can also visit the Energy Assistance Page for more information.
For more information, please contact CRT’s Communications Director, Jason Black at 860-230-4535.
Calling All Mural Artists! Make History in Hartford!
CRT is seeking proposals for a large-scale public mural to inspire the women we serve at our Women’s Empowerment Center and to honor the legacy of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) and other phenomenal women who have made historic contributions to the advancement of women’s rights.
The RBG-inspired mural will be painted at 330 Market St., Hartford – AND artists can use the whole building as their canvas!
All proposals are due by Monday April 5, 2021 at 1:00 pm!
Submit your plan today!
The Joy of Jenga Together at The Retreat Assisted-Living
NewsThe Retreat Assisted-Living in Hartford is now making small group gatherings available to their senior members (for the first time in a year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic!), and that includes use of the internet cafe room for table games, like Jenga!
We invited Hartford Courant photographer Mark Mirko to come see the action for himself last Friday. He got an amazing shot that ran on the FRONT PAGE of the Courant this past weekend!
CRT’s Learning Hub Continues to be Available for Hartford Families
NewsOn “Pi Day” (March 14, 2021), Dominique Moody from NBC Connecticut shared a variety of learning resources to help parents with school-age children, including CRT’s Learning Hub designed for Hartford families that selected in‐person learning for their children (grades K – 3) and may be adversely impacted by COVID‐19‐related facility closures. Watch the full report below to learn more.
CRT’s 30th Annual National Arts Program® Accepting Submissions Now
National ArtsArtists of all ages and skill levels, from Middlesex and Hartford counties, may submit work online for this annual art exhibit; it is free to register and offers cash prizes for winning work!
As they say in the arts, “The show must go on!” And this year is no exception for CRT’s 30th Annual National Arts Program, which for the first time will be entirely virtual.
To accommodate the safety needs of the artists, judges, and guests who will view the artistic work submitted, this year’s National Arts show will be hosted in an online gallery format. Artists will have the opportunity to submit photographs of their work to be exhibited via a virtual art gallery and CRT plans to host an online awards reception to celebrate all of the winning work.
All forms of visual arts may be submitted to the show; from paintings and photographs to sculptures, crafts and textiles. Up to two entries may be submitted per artist and they must be the original work of the applicant and completed within the last three years. This year, CRT encourages participants to consider creating or submitting art that is related to their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Artists can submit their work for free to this show. The deadline to register for the 2021 National Arts Program is Friday, March 19, 2021.
Register now!
CRT 30th Annual National Arts Program for Central Connecticut is Virtual This Year
Press ReleaseHARTFORD — As they say in the arts, “The show must go on!” And this year is no exception for the Community Renewal Team’s (CRT) 30th Annual National Arts Program® (NAP) for artists of all ages and skill levels, from Middlesex and Hartford Counties who are invited to submit their work now for the 2021 art show, which for the first time will be entirely virtual.
To accommodate the safety needs of the artists, judges, and guests who will view the artistic work submitted, this year’s National Arts show will be hosted in an online gallery format. Artists will have the opportunity to submit photographs of their work to be exhibited via a virtual art gallery and CRT plans to host an online awards reception to celebrate all of the winning work – exact time and additional details will be announced.
All forms of visual arts may be submitted to the show; from paintings and photographs to sculptures, crafts and textiles. Up to two entries may be submitted per artist and they must be the original work of the applicant and completed within the last three years. This year, CRT encourages participants to consider creating or submitting art that is related to their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Artists can submit their work for free to this show. By removing the financial and commercial requirements of most exhibitions, this special show creates a sense of community and artistic fulfillment for all participants.
The deadline to register for the 2021 National Arts Program is Friday, March 19, 2021.
To register for the show, please use the link below.
Judging of the submissions to the National Arts show this year will take place at the end of March, and winning artists will be notified in early April.
Cash prizes will be awarded in each of the following categories:
The final category – “Teens Looking Out for Teens” is being offered for the third year in a row, following the previous success of this special category for up-and-coming artists.
This year we will be using the online platform SmugMug.com to exhibit photos of the art submitted to the show. The exhibit will be online and available to the public starting on March 26, 2021. The gallery link will be available for sharing, and CRT encourages artists to share their work in the show with friends and family.
To register for the show, please use the National Arts Registration form: https://www.nationalartsprogram.org/hartford/hartford-ct-2021-registration-form
Please Note: After you complete this registration form and click the ‘submit registration’ button, you will receive an automatic confirmation email. In that email message, there will be a link to a webpage where you will upload your art image file. On that webpage, there are also tips and tricks on how to take the best photograph of your art in order to meet the set standards for acceptable art image files. Your registration is complete when you have received an email from us confirming that your art image file was accepted.
Complete details about how to submit your artwork to CRT’s 30 Annual National Arts Program show are available online.
The National Arts Program provides materials and funding for this visual art exhibit including awards for winning work totaling $3,450.
All prizes are determined by a panel of judges with experience in the arts. Prizes will be awarded by classification:
Awards are limited to one cash award per artist per classification.
Be sure to ‘like’ CRT on Facebook to get the latest information about the 2021 National Arts Program.
For more information, please contact Irene Mackey at [email protected] or call 860-519-4384.
Editor’s Note: High-Resolution pictures of winning artwork from the 2020 National Arts Program show in Hartford are available to accompany stories about this event.
For more information, please contact CRT’s Communications Director, Jason Black at 860-230-4535.
Need Help Filing Your 2020 Federal and State Tax Return? CRT has Free Help with VITA
NewsNeed help completing and filing your 2020 Federal and State tax return? CRT provides FREE tax prep services in Hartford and Middletown with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program now thru Tax Day (April 15, 2021). Completed tax returns are filed electronically from CRT at no cost to you!
Get more information in this report by Carmen Chau on Fox 61.
CRT Offers FREE Tax Preparation Services with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program
Press ReleaseHartford – Do you need help completing and filing your 2020 federal and state tax return? The Community Renewal Team (CRT) has free help in Hartford County and Middlesex County with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program now through Tax Day on April 15, 2021.
CRT offers VITA services at the following locations:
Tax returns are filed electronically from CRT at no cost to the consumer. Refunds are generally received within two to three weeks when filed online.
The VITA program offers free tax help to:
To use the VITA tax preparation services with CRT, please follow the information below:
*NOTE: Social-distancing protocols are in effect at all CRT offices, and masks must be worn inside offices.
Here is the documentation that you will need to complete your 2020 taxes:
VITA Tax Savings Really Add Up!
Make an appointment to complete your taxes at 330 Market Street in Hartford or 32 Washington Street in Middletown.
For more information, please visit the VITA page.