Get Help

Welcome to Yellowstone Country Assistance Network’s Get Help Page!

We know that getting help can be complicated and confusing. We hope to make the process simpler by giving you all the information you might need in advance. We have also partnered with One-Stops in each county we serve, so each applicant will be paired with a case manager who will complete the application for you.

The buttons below will take you to where you need to go for services.

About the CSBG Grant

Yellowstone Country Assistance Network administers the Community Services Block Grant through a contract with the Wyoming Department of Health Rural & Frontier Division. This is a federal grant with eligibility and documentation requirements.

Availability:

• Clients will be served on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. A denial may be given if no funds are available, the customer has exceeded usage allowance, the client does not qualify based on income requirements, the client does not provide required documents, or the client has exceeded allowable limits for the program.
• YCAN Staff cannot deny clients based on personal beliefs or determinations about clients. All clients who qualify must be served unless one of the above circumstances exists. ​
  • Privacy Policy
  • Non-Discrimination Policy
  • Complaint & Appeal Policy

Eligibility:

• You must be a county resident currently being served by YCAN through the fund to be used (Park County, Wyoming, and Hot Springs County, Wyoming). Residency is defined as having the ability to provide documentation or testimony of living in our service area. The following is acceptable for demonstrating residency.
  • ​​Bill, with a local address
  • ID with a local address: CSBG does not require an ID for service. Clients without an ID should alert their case manager for proper processing.
  • Lease with current address
  • A written statement from a local employer with intent to hire.
  • Written statement by a county resident that the individual lives within the service area or has been offered employment within the service area.

Financial Eligibility:

The income of all household members 18 of age or older must not exceed the current allowable income based on the poverty guidelines. CSBG is currently authorized to service clients with income from 0% to 200% of the federal poverty guideline.

The number of individuals making up the household must be determined as the income available when determining financial eligibility.

• ​A household is any individual or group living together as one economic unit. The number of individuals in the economic unit will determine household size.
• There may be situations where individuals, who are homeless, are temporarily residing with another permanent household. Only the individual needing assistance will be assessed for income eligibility in cases like this.
• Household income is the total gross income for all individuals in a household 18 years or older. 
  • Gross income is cash receipts the applicant earned and received before taxes.
• The applicant will be asked to provide information concerning all other assistance being received. Please note that other services received will not necessarily prevent you from qualifying.

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Verification of Income:

Please note that no staff person, contractor, or volunteer working on behalf of YCAN may provide services for a client or potential client without first determining that the person or family is income eligible for the services provided. Income is documented in the file.

• All income, including fixed income, for the family or individual must be documented at the time of the application for services and verified every 90 days. Fixed income may be verified using a yearly statement.
  • When verification is obtained from an employer, complete information concerning the amount and source must be documented. In addition to recording the income amount and the source, documentation must include the name and title of the person who gave the verification.
  • Paycheck stubs can be used to determine the period covered by the check and whether it represents current and/or past income. Current paycheck stubs showing at least 4 weeks’ worth of payments will be used to determine eligibility. If current income does not represent usual pay, staff are encouraged to use year-to-date amounts. When year to date amount is unavailable, it is acceptable to use 8 weeks’ worth of consecutive paycheck stubs from the period beyond the three months if the reason is documented and the period used is reasonably determined to be the best representation of annual income.
  • If it can be determined and documented that the client is a salaried employee and all pay stubs are the same, and/or monthly income stays the same, collecting less than 8 weeks of work of pay is acceptable.
  • A written client statement is not an acceptable verification when determining whether income fluctuates monthly or if the pay stubs are always the same.
  • Bank statements can only be used to verify SSI and VA income and as a supplemental document for other stable, unearned income such as retirement. It must be evident that gross income is being verified without any deductions, tax, or otherwise.
  • The following may also be used as a method of income verification:
    • ​Written, signed, and dated statements from employer(s).
    • Copies of income tax returns for self-employed persons.
    • Records maintained for self-employed persons.
    • Award letters and/or other proof of income.

Verification of Zero Income or Missing Required Documentation

• A household unit of zero income must provide confirmation. The application must indicate the zero income status of each household member 18 years or older. In situations where zero income is listed on a SNAP printout for the household, the printout may be used as a sole source of income verification for SNAP cases that are open and active during the verification period. When considered as a whole, all such documentation must be reasonable and clearly indicate how the household survives without any cash income. Gifts of cash or in-kind contributions (food, clothing, etc.) are not considered cash income. However, in documenting a household’s zero income status, all gifts (cash or other goods to meet basic necessities) must be documented and placed in the applicant’s file.
• A self-attestation document stating the validity of zero income and the explanation thereof must be signed. It will be used as a legal and binding statement by the client that they qualify for the services provided.
• ​A self-attestation document may be signed if the client lacks any documents to provide income proof. The statement must provide a clear and reasonable cause as to why the documents are unavailable. Valid reasons usually involve an unexpected crisis or event that makes the documents inaccessible. 

Eligibility Period:

There are two different types of services provided through the Community Services Block Grant:

1. Tangible Services One-Time Help: This type of service involves the provision of a tangible benefit by the agency to an individual or a family. Examples of tangible services are” providing food, purchasing a client’s medicine, making a rent payment, etc. The service delivery process is completed once the individual or family has been eligible. If no CSBG services are provided, the case must be closed.
2. Intangible Services Long-Term Intensive Case Management: This type of service entails the performance of services on the client’s behalf by agency staff. Examples of intangible services are Income management counseling, education, intensive case management, chore or companionship services, etc. Intangible services, by their nature, extend over a period of time.

​Required Documents:

• YCAN Online application or intake completed by the client’s case manager at the First Stop of Park County (307-296-6706) or the Help Center at Common Ground (307-864-3851).
• Photo ID – State or Federally issued. (The program director may approve an exception, and clients must be able to identify themselves by alternative means.)
• Proof of Income – Last 30 days. Income includes any pay, benefit, or federal assistance programs. If no income exists, a self-attestation form may be used. Must meet income qualifications of CSBG grant. 
• Documentation supporting services to be received. (Bills, invoices, quotes)
• An IRS form w-9 must be on file for all landlord vendors before rent payments.