The release of federal contingency funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will enable state and area agencies to continue supplying needy homeowners and renters with home heating this winter.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released $490 million in emergency LIHEAP funding last week, with $8.7 million going to Kentucky.

“This is a year of unprecedented need and we’re probably going to spend more money in the LIHEAP program than ever before,” said Kip Bowmar, executive director of Community Action of Kentucky, which will administer the $8.7 million in state contingency funds to local agencies.

Bowmar said because of the economic recession, more residents need help paying for home energy costs.

Locally, Community Action of Southern Kentucky distributes LIHEAP funds to needy residents in Warren and nine other counties.

The crisis program, which assists people with regulated utilities such as natural gas or electric who have received a cutoff or past due notice and people who are within four days of running out of wood, kerosene or coal, began distributing funds Jan. 4.

Cheryl Allen, executive director of Community Action of Southern Kentucky, said it has not yet been determined how much in contingency funds the local agency will receive, but a significant portion of the basic LIHEAP funding has already been used.

“We were allocated for the crisis program $1,731,749,” Allen said. “Through (Wednesday), of the households that have been accepted into the program, we’ve spent $540,189, and that’s within a few weeks. We opened up on Jan. 4, so you can see we were going to need money to get through the end of March.”

The local Community Action agency has served 201 more Warren County households in the LIHEAP program than last year.

More households also are being served in Allen, Barren, Hart and Metcalfe counties this year.

In the 10-county area, 64 more households have been accepted into the program compared with 2009.

The discrepancy comes about because of increasing instances in which two households are living under one roof due to rising costs of living.

“One of our coordinators reported to us that she’s hearing that several households this year have doubled up with other families or are living with other family members,” Allen said.

Though more households have been served locally this year, the money spent has not reached the same amount as at this point in 2009 because kerosene and propane costs have been lower this year.

That figure is deceptive, though, according to Allen, because heating bills have not yet been issued during the recent cold snap.

“The bills we’ve seen so far are for the part of the month where we’ve had good temperatures,” Allen said. “We want to make sure people who have never accessed this service before know that this service is available.”

“The money is here to provide assistance so that no one has to go without heat, food, medicine and other essentials.”

— To find out if you’re eligible for LIHEAP assistance, call the Community Action of Southern Kentucky Bowling Green office at 782-4437 or visit the agency at 171 Center St.

Source: Bowling Green Daily News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Frigid temperatures have many Kentuckians concerned they may not be able to pay their home heating bills this winter. However, a program announced last week in Louisville is coming to the aid of families facing home-heating emergencies. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP for short, makes funding available to these families, according to Mary Elizabeth Miles, executive director of the Louisville Community Action Partnership.

"The LIHEAP program is a federal program that was designed to serve low-income clients and to help them during the coldest months of the year with their energy bills."

Last year, Kentucky spent over $60 million oi LIHEAP funding and served nearly 300,000 families.

This year's funding for eligible families began last week and continues until the end of March. Miles adds that families who can't pay their heating bills during the harshest part of winter need to sign up now.

"I think that what it does is gives us the opportunity to engage a large amount of clients in need in a very small amount of time."

According to Miles, another benefit for families who might sign up for LIHEAP is that it introduces them to the other services offered by Community Action Kentucky, of which her organization is a part.

"Our mission is to help people gain self-efficiency, so if we can engage folks when they come in we might be able to offer them some of our other programs in employment, job training, financial literacy, education, and so on."

State officials say that eligible households that can benefit the most - seniors, the disabled and families with young children - are encouraged to take advantage of LIHEAP assistance.

Source: KY Public News Service

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

Local assistance agencies began doling out federal heating assistance money last week, just in time for one of the coldest weeks of the winter.

Angie May, Coordinator of LIHEAP program for KCEOC in Knox County, is seeing a higher than normal number of people seeking heating help.

“It’s been very crowded. We’ve been seeing 225-250 a day as clients,” she said. “Normally it’s not over 200, at about 175, so we have seen an increase in people coming in.”

Low income residents can receive up to $400 in heating assistance through LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). Applicants must bring a disconnect or past due heating bill notice (if applicable), their Social Security cards and proof of income. The help is for those who are about to lose their electric or gas heating service, or who are within four days of running out of wood, coal, propane or kerosene used to heat their homes.

May estimated her agency has spent about a fourth of its funding in the first few days of the LIHEAP program, and has given out $40,000 to $42,000 a day in assistance vouchers.

Sign-ups are taken between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, but applicants start arriving at 5 a.m., May said. The office has been opening earlier to get applicants out of the cold at 7 a.m.

The Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency has, for the first time, moved its LIHEAP registration to the Williamsburg Civic Center.

Since Monday, Judy Rice, community services block grant and LIHEAP coordinator, said the agency has served 747 households, 335 of them in Whitley County. Applications are being taken from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at the civic center.

“I think we’re right on track with last year,” Rice said of the number of applicants.

Community Action Agencies in the Tri-County will offer LIHEAP crisis assistance until all funding is exhausted. In Laurel County, call 864-9121. In Knox County, call 546-3152. In Whitley County, call 549-3933.

Theresa Marinaro, director of the Christian Shelter for the Homeless, has seen a few more people coming to the shelter due to the cold weather.

“We get a lot of people that prefer to live outdoors,” Marinaro said. “They come in when it’s cold like this. Out of 20 male beds, there are four or five people who will be here for a week or two and then they’ll go back.

“Some people prefer to be very independent. They tend to be as a rule a little bit older people and that’s just how they like to live. It’s very hard for us to wrap our minds around it when we’re used to going home to our nice warm couch and wrapping a blanket around us.”

These men often live in tents in rural parts of Laurel or surrounding counties, she said.

“It is a fact, and you can’t force adults to come in if they won’t do it,” Marinaro said, “but they do tend to come in, and if nothing else, we’ll get two or three a day that will come in for a warm cup of coffee.”

Bill Woodward with Emergency Christian Ministries in Williamsburg said his shelter stays busy year-round. He hasn’t seen much of an increase in those seeking shelter, but people are calling the non-profit with weather-related problems. He said he was calling local pastors Thursday to see if any congregation members could help a Corbin woman whose water pipes had burst from the cold.

Source: The Times Tribune

During the first week of the new year and during some of the coldest weather of the season, thousands of people are facing having their utilities shut off for lack of payment.

A community action organization in Kentucky is in crisis mode starting Monday to help people keep the lights on and, more importantly, to stay warm.

The Northeast Kentucky Community Action is helping get the money to people who need it. People lined up beginning early Monday morning at a Greenup office, trying to avoid the shut-office notice that's looming back home.

If you need help, it's important to stress that funding is available on a first come, first serve basis.

Last year, the Northeast Community Action Agency actually provided financial help to more than 10,000 households in five counties.

If you live in Kentucky and want more information, you can contact: Community Action Kentucky at 800-456-3452. Someone there can direct you toward help in your specific town or county.

Source: WSAZ

Helping People Stay Warm

The deepening of cold winter weather combined with rising utility costs leaves many households unable to fully meet heating bills but starting Monday, January 4, 2010 help is on the way.

Community Action of Southern Kentucky began its crisis portion of Low-Income Home Energy Program or LIHEAP.

The state wide program assist households with heating bills or purchase sufficient bulk fuel to keep their families safe and warm.

Applications will only be taken in person at convenient Community Action partnership locations.

"The application has to be made in person. They have sign certain applications and we have to have hard copies of things you just can't do over the telephone," says Randy Upchurch, CA Community Service Coordinator.

To apply you must have a social security card from everyone in the house, proof of income from December, and a late notice from the utility company.

Last year nearly 7,000 residents received assistance in the ten counties Community Action of Southern Kentucky serves.

Source: WBKO

Low-Income Home Energy Program

Newport, Ky. -- Low-income families in Northern Kentucky struggling to pay their energy bills can now apply for help.

The Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission expects long lines for the next several weeks as families apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP.

This year William Fulmer of Highland Heights found himself out of a job sooner than expected.

"I was working for a pool company and it's seasonal. We get laid off around the same time every year but it just depends. This year with the economy the way it is we got laid off earlier than expected," said William Fulmer of Highland Heights.

His utility bills started piling up. His balance was more than $300.

To help with the payment, William turned to the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission (NKCAC).

This week the NKCAC started a home energy assistance program to help low-income families with their utility bills.

"I've definitely seen an increase in demand. I've done this three years and in the past we have not had lines in the morning and this year we have definitely had lines," said Beth Andriacco, NKY Community Action Commission.

Low-income families that face a disconnection, or are within three days of running out of fuel used to heat their home, qualify for the program.

They will need to bring their utility bill and one month's proof of income.

"A lot of times when people come in they tell us they have been heating with their stove and it's a safety concern especially when you have children in the home. So it's always a high-priority to make sure we can get the fuel they need for heating or get their gas and electric turned on whatever the case may be," said Andriacco.

For Fulmer, it buys him time until he gets back to work.

"This might help give me a few extra weeks to figure something out and by that time I will be back at work," he said.

In just one day, the NKCAC helped 240 families throughout eight surrounding counties pay their bills.

The program lasts through March or until the state and federal monies run out.

The Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission helped more than 4,900 families with LIHEAP assistance this fall.

Source: WCPO

The release of federal contingency funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will enable state and area agencies to continue supplying needy homeowners and renters with home heating this winter.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released $490 million in emergency LIHEAP funding last week, with $8.7 million going to Kentucky.

“This is a year of unprecedented need and we’re probably going to spend more money in the LIHEAP program than ever before,” said Kip Bowmar, executive director of Community Action of Kentucky, which will administer the $8.7 million in state contingency funds to local agencies.

Bowmar said because of the economic recession, more residents need help paying for home energy costs.

Locally, Community Action of Southern Kentucky distributes LIHEAP funds to needy residents in Warren and nine other counties.

The crisis program, which assists people with regulated utilities such as natural gas or electric who have received a cutoff or past due notice and people who are within four days of running out of wood, kerosene or coal, began distributing funds Jan. 4.

Cheryl Allen, executive director of Community Action of Southern Kentucky, said it has not yet been determined how much in contingency funds the local agency will receive, but a significant portion of the basic LIHEAP funding has already been used.

“We were allocated for the crisis program $1,731,749,” Allen said. “Through (Wednesday), of the households that have been accepted into the program, we’ve spent $540,189, and that’s within a few weeks. We opened up on Jan. 4, so you can see we were going to need money to get through the end of March.”

The local Community Action agency has served 201 more Warren County households in the LIHEAP program than last year.

More households also are being served in Allen, Barren, Hart and Metcalfe counties this year.

In the 10-county area, 64 more households have been accepted into the program compared with 2009.

The discrepancy comes about because of increasing instances in which two households are living under one roof due to rising costs of living.

“One of our coordinators reported to us that she’s hearing that several households this year have doubled up with other families or are living with other family members,” Allen said.

Though more households have been served locally this year, the money spent has not reached the same amount as at this point in 2009 because kerosene and propane costs have been lower this year.

That figure is deceptive, though, according to Allen, because heating bills have not yet been issued during the recent cold snap.

“The bills we’ve seen so far are for the part of the month where we’ve had good temperatures,” Allen said. “We want to make sure people who have never accessed this service before know that this service is available.”

“The money is here to provide assistance so that no one has to go without heat, food, medicine and other essentials.”

— To find out if you’re eligible for LIHEAP assistance, call the Community Action of Southern Kentucky Bowling Green office at 782-4437 or visit the agency at 171 Center St.

Source: Bowling Green Daily News

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Frigid temperatures have many Kentuckians concerned they may not be able to pay their home heating bills this winter. However, a program announced last week in Louisville is coming to the aid of families facing home-heating emergencies. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP for short, makes funding available to these families, according to Mary Elizabeth Miles, executive director of the Louisville Community Action Partnership.

"The LIHEAP program is a federal program that was designed to serve low-income clients and to help them during the coldest months of the year with their energy bills."

Last year, Kentucky spent over $60 million oi LIHEAP funding and served nearly 300,000 families.

This year's funding for eligible families began last week and continues until the end of March. Miles adds that families who can't pay their heating bills during the harshest part of winter need to sign up now.

"I think that what it does is gives us the opportunity to engage a large amount of clients in need in a very small amount of time."

According to Miles, another benefit for families who might sign up for LIHEAP is that it introduces them to the other services offered by Community Action Kentucky, of which her organization is a part.

"Our mission is to help people gain self-efficiency, so if we can engage folks when they come in we might be able to offer them some of our other programs in employment, job training, financial literacy, education, and so on."

State officials say that eligible households that can benefit the most - seniors, the disabled and families with young children - are encouraged to take advantage of LIHEAP assistance.

Source: KY Public News Service

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

Local assistance agencies began doling out federal heating assistance money last week, just in time for one of the coldest weeks of the winter.

Angie May, Coordinator of LIHEAP program for KCEOC in Knox County, is seeing a higher than normal number of people seeking heating help.

“It’s been very crowded. We’ve been seeing 225-250 a day as clients,” she said. “Normally it’s not over 200, at about 175, so we have seen an increase in people coming in.”

Low income residents can receive up to $400 in heating assistance through LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program). Applicants must bring a disconnect or past due heating bill notice (if applicable), their Social Security cards and proof of income. The help is for those who are about to lose their electric or gas heating service, or who are within four days of running out of wood, coal, propane or kerosene used to heat their homes.

May estimated her agency has spent about a fourth of its funding in the first few days of the LIHEAP program, and has given out $40,000 to $42,000 a day in assistance vouchers.

Sign-ups are taken between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, but applicants start arriving at 5 a.m., May said. The office has been opening earlier to get applicants out of the cold at 7 a.m.

The Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency has, for the first time, moved its LIHEAP registration to the Williamsburg Civic Center.

Since Monday, Judy Rice, community services block grant and LIHEAP coordinator, said the agency has served 747 households, 335 of them in Whitley County. Applications are being taken from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily at the civic center.

“I think we’re right on track with last year,” Rice said of the number of applicants.

Community Action Agencies in the Tri-County will offer LIHEAP crisis assistance until all funding is exhausted. In Laurel County, call 864-9121. In Knox County, call 546-3152. In Whitley County, call 549-3933.

Theresa Marinaro, director of the Christian Shelter for the Homeless, has seen a few more people coming to the shelter due to the cold weather.

“We get a lot of people that prefer to live outdoors,” Marinaro said. “They come in when it’s cold like this. Out of 20 male beds, there are four or five people who will be here for a week or two and then they’ll go back.

“Some people prefer to be very independent. They tend to be as a rule a little bit older people and that’s just how they like to live. It’s very hard for us to wrap our minds around it when we’re used to going home to our nice warm couch and wrapping a blanket around us.”

These men often live in tents in rural parts of Laurel or surrounding counties, she said.

“It is a fact, and you can’t force adults to come in if they won’t do it,” Marinaro said, “but they do tend to come in, and if nothing else, we’ll get two or three a day that will come in for a warm cup of coffee.”

Bill Woodward with Emergency Christian Ministries in Williamsburg said his shelter stays busy year-round. He hasn’t seen much of an increase in those seeking shelter, but people are calling the non-profit with weather-related problems. He said he was calling local pastors Thursday to see if any congregation members could help a Corbin woman whose water pipes had burst from the cold.

Source: The Times Tribune

During the first week of the new year and during some of the coldest weather of the season, thousands of people are facing having their utilities shut off for lack of payment.

A community action organization in Kentucky is in crisis mode starting Monday to help people keep the lights on and, more importantly, to stay warm.

The Northeast Kentucky Community Action is helping get the money to people who need it. People lined up beginning early Monday morning at a Greenup office, trying to avoid the shut-office notice that's looming back home.

If you need help, it's important to stress that funding is available on a first come, first serve basis.

Last year, the Northeast Community Action Agency actually provided financial help to more than 10,000 households in five counties.

If you live in Kentucky and want more information, you can contact: Community Action Kentucky at 800-456-3452. Someone there can direct you toward help in your specific town or county.

Source: WSAZ

Helping People Stay Warm

The deepening of cold winter weather combined with rising utility costs leaves many households unable to fully meet heating bills but starting Monday, January 4, 2010 help is on the way.

Community Action of Southern Kentucky began its crisis portion of Low-Income Home Energy Program or LIHEAP.

The state wide program assist households with heating bills or purchase sufficient bulk fuel to keep their families safe and warm.

Applications will only be taken in person at convenient Community Action partnership locations.

"The application has to be made in person. They have sign certain applications and we have to have hard copies of things you just can't do over the telephone," says Randy Upchurch, CA Community Service Coordinator.

To apply you must have a social security card from everyone in the house, proof of income from December, and a late notice from the utility company.

Last year nearly 7,000 residents received assistance in the ten counties Community Action of Southern Kentucky serves.

Source: WBKO

Low-Income Home Energy Program

Newport, Ky. -- Low-income families in Northern Kentucky struggling to pay their energy bills can now apply for help.

The Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission expects long lines for the next several weeks as families apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP.

This year William Fulmer of Highland Heights found himself out of a job sooner than expected.

"I was working for a pool company and it's seasonal. We get laid off around the same time every year but it just depends. This year with the economy the way it is we got laid off earlier than expected," said William Fulmer of Highland Heights.

His utility bills started piling up. His balance was more than $300.

To help with the payment, William turned to the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission (NKCAC).

This week the NKCAC started a home energy assistance program to help low-income families with their utility bills.

"I've definitely seen an increase in demand. I've done this three years and in the past we have not had lines in the morning and this year we have definitely had lines," said Beth Andriacco, NKY Community Action Commission.

Low-income families that face a disconnection, or are within three days of running out of fuel used to heat their home, qualify for the program.

They will need to bring their utility bill and one month's proof of income.

"A lot of times when people come in they tell us they have been heating with their stove and it's a safety concern especially when you have children in the home. So it's always a high-priority to make sure we can get the fuel they need for heating or get their gas and electric turned on whatever the case may be," said Andriacco.

For Fulmer, it buys him time until he gets back to work.

"This might help give me a few extra weeks to figure something out and by that time I will be back at work," he said.

In just one day, the NKCAC helped 240 families throughout eight surrounding counties pay their bills.

The program lasts through March or until the state and federal monies run out.

The Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission helped more than 4,900 families with LIHEAP assistance this fall.

Source: WCPO