Staying Warm This Winter

categories: Cities, Federal, Government, Guest Bloggers, Housing, Social Programs, States, The Economy

Published October 27, 2009 @ 11:13AM PT

In many regions across the country, the days are getting shorter and the colorful autumn leaves are slowly falling to the ground. This can only mean that the stinging cold of winter is just around the corner.

What this also means, particularly with unemployment rates still astonishingly high and the recession continuing, is that nonprofit organizations and government agencies are bracing for an increased demand for utility assistance over the next several months.

The main way that energy assistance funds are distributed in the U.S. is through the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. However, instead of providing assistance directly to the general public, the Department makes block grants to individual states who then distribute checks to needy households.

Eligibility guidelines are determined somewhat by state, but the federal government mandates that anyone receiving LIHEAP benefits must have an income level between 110 and 150 percent of the federal poverty line. (To find the eligibility requirements for your state, click here.)

Deadlines to apply for assistance are also determined by state, but as far as I can tell, there isn't a central comprehensive directory that lists all deadlines. In some states, like Pennsylvania for example, applications for state LIHEAP funds will be accepted starting this coming Monday, November 2.

I encourage anyone who believes they qualify for these benefits to contact their state LIHEAP office very soon to inquire about application deadlines, procedures, etc.

(Photo credit: bierce on Flickr)

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For those that are in Florida and need assistance, here is the information and website.

Bureau of Housing and Community Development
2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100
TEL: (850) 922-1834
PUBLIC INQUIRIES: 850-488-7541

Also, there is information that is needed to get assistance on the county level.

For Orange: Orange County Youth and family Services 407-836-7429

For Polk: Agriculture and Labor Program 863-956-3491

In both cases be expected to making numerous calls as the services are very busy taking in information for applications process.

Posted by Aaron Shaw on 10/28/2009 @ 11:55PM PT
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Author

Greg Plotkin is currently a grant-writer living in Washington, DC. As a two-year AmeriCorps member teaching in DC Public Schools, he saw families struggling with poverty on a daily basis and has become particularly interested in hunger, nutrition and food access issues. He has also viewed poverty through the lens of his work with Habitat for Humanity and Charlie's Place--a DC soup kitchen and homeless support center.