Assistance Programs : Clay County Utility Authority

Golden Opportunities Plan

We recognize many of our elderly customers are on fixed or limited incomes and may have some difficulty paying their bill because the bill date may not coincide with the dates they will receive social security, disability or retirement checks.

Our Golden Opportunities Plan enables customers who are 62 years of age or older, retired, and on a limited or fixed income to pay their quarterly utility bill up to 21 days after the due date on the bill. Customers must contact our office during regular hours Monday – Friday, 8 A.M. – 5 P.M. to make arrangements for this payment extension.

What is the Lend a Helping Hand Program?
The "Board of Supervisors" of the Clay County Utility Authority recognized that sometimes our customers have temporary hardships in paying their water and/or sewer bills. Due to bond ordinances and Chapter 94-491, Laws of Florida, the Clay County Utility Authority is prohibited in giving free water and/or sewer services. Therefore, in the spring of 1996, the Board of Supervisors stared the "Lend A Helping Hand" program where customers can voluntarily donate a set amount when paying their quarterly water and/or sewer bill. These donations are then used to pay the bills of those with temporary hardships.

Who is eligible for this program?
Customers of the Clay County Utility Authority who are:

Elderly, 60 years of age or older whose household income is below the poverty level;
Handicapped whose household income is below the poverty level;
Low income households below the poverty level; or
Any customer who has an emergency situation which results in temporary hardships.

What does the Program cover?
The program only covers payment of the current past due Clay County Utility Authority water and/or swer bill.. Help to households is limited to one time in a twelve-month period with a maximum payment of $350.00.

Who administers the needs assessment?
The Clay County Utility Authority currently has an agreement with the Catholic Charities Bureau to complete the needs assessment of customers seeking to use the program, per the program's eligibility requirements. The agency selected to complete the needs assessment receives no compensation for this service and is required to apply the needs assessment criteria without reference to the applicant's race, ethnic origin, nationality, primary language, religion, political affiliation, sex, marital status, or any disability. The Clay County Utility Authority will not complete any needs assessments for the program.

Who administers the Program’s funds?
The existing staff of the Clay County Utility Authority keeps the Lend a Helping Hand funds in a separate bank account for use in paying only certified needy recipients' water and/or sewer bills as directed by Catholic Charities Bureau.

Who pays for the expenses of the Program?
The Clay County Utility Authority pays for the printing of these reports and donation forms. The existing personnel of the Clay County Utility Authority are assigned to account for these funds. 100% of the donations given to the program go to helping the needy customers of the Clay County Utility Authority.

To date, the Lend A Helping Hand program has helped 532 customers in paying their quarterly water and/or sewer bills. The average help has been approximately $100.00 per recipient.

How can I help with this program?
Approximately 242 customers are already giving an average of $4.17 per quarter or $16.68 per year. You can sign up by completing a Contribution Authorization Form and send it in with your utility bill payment. If you wish, you may add your donation to your utility payment and send it along with your signed authorization form. Alternatively, if you prefer, we will start your donation on your quarterly bill. You can also make a one-time donation by inserting the amount on your payment stub.

What if I want to stop my donation?
If you wish to stop your contribution to the program, pay just your utility bill and we will drop you from the program. .

What if I have more questions about the program?
You can call or write the Clay County Utility Authority's New Service Facilitator, Melody Turner, at 904-272-5999, or toll free at (877) 476-2282, extension 2448

Clothes Closet – (904) 264-5239 or (904) 264-9317
NE Action Agency – (904) 213-3888, Extension 2078
NFAN Aid Network Housing Coordinator– (904) 356-1612, Extension 24
Orange Park United Methodist Church - (904) 264-2241, Extension 230
Pinewood Presbyterian Church – (904) 272-7177, Extension 5527 (By Appointment Only)
Sacred Heart Catholic Church – (904) 284-3811, Extension 207 or (904) 284-4767, Extension 107 (Tuesdays & Thursdays Only)
Salvation Army – (904) 276-6677, Extension 107 or (904) 276-6030
St. Catherine’s Catholic Church Orange Park – (904) 264-0577
St Luke’s Catholic Church – (904) 282-0439, Extension 14 (By Appointment Only Tuesdays & Thursdays)

Please Note: Services listed above do not promise same day payment. Ample amount of time must be given in order to receive payment before utilities are discontinued. This service will only be provided to help you once a year.