Low-Income Southern Oregon Residents Get Easier Access To Firewood Through UCAN Partnership

The United Community Action Network (UCAN) has teamed up with two local firms to help residents in Douglas and Josephine counties have easier access to critical heating resources.

The partnership aims to deliver wood logs to residents through a division of UCAN’s Utility Assistance Program Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Douglas And Josephine County Low-Income Residents Get Firewood Delivered

To ensure families have a safe home that meets their needs, LIHEAP arranges energy payment assistance and home weatherization services.

UCAN has now partnered with Roseburg Forest Products (RFP) and CIMFL Landscape Maintenance and Tree Service to enhance services to families in need.

Residents who previously got firewood resources through the program used to get a check in the mail and had to retrieve wood themselves, whereas the new partnership provides a complete delivery of wood right to their doorstep.

RFP will supply the wood logs to CIMFL, which will break them down into smaller pieces and transport them in a truck to the resident’s house.

CIMFL has been providing this service to the community for several years, and owner Kimberly Cimfl indicated that the team is prepared to serve 200 households once they get word to start delivering the firewood.

Access To UCAN Fire Log Deliveries

Around 4,100 households in Douglas and Josephine Counties are served by UCAN’s Utility Assistance Program every year and the program Manager, Jess Hlavinka, indicated that UCAN is hoping to see more people who need firewood apply because of the increased ease of the process this year.

Hlavinka said it has been difficult for our clients access the firewood as many can’t go get their own.

Hlavinka confirmed that applicants need to come in to apply, and once the application is processed, a notification will be sent to CIMFL if the application is approved. CIMFL will then organize a time to deliver- ideally within 48 hours of that notification.

Applications to receive wood for December have opened, and those in need can apply on the UCAN website.