The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is typically seasonal, spanning the winter months and ending in March. However, officials said Wednesday they have been running the program nonstop since November 2019.
The program aims to assist homes at risk of shutoff during different seasons geared toward natural gas, electric and other materials.
The fall LIHEAP subsidy will start on Nov. 1, which will allow individuals that are at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines to be presented a benefit to help with paying the bill. For example, the poverty level for a family of four is $3,313 a month.
Depending on income, the benefit ranges from $50 to $200. This is one-time assistance for the season.
After Dec. 10, the winter season will begin but with the change being strictly for disconnects and late fees. The max benefit is $400.
“In the last two years, we have been able to provide the residents of Daviess County with almost $2.9 million in benefits to help them with their gas, electric and bulk fuels. That’s just LIHEAP,” Robyn Mattingly, Senior Service Corps Director at Audubon Area Community Services, said during a public virtual meeting with Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly.
When it comes to relief for water, waste, gas and electric bills, there is a “last resort” help option with Green River Area Development. Unlike LIHEAP, this is a COVID-19-related program.
As long as a client can prove they were financially impacted by COVID-19, they can apply for funding.
The program is distinctly for those that were not approved for any aid from the LIHEAP program. The program currently is expected to run through the end of 2022.
According to Hunter Phillips, Community Development Planner at GRADD, the funds can be placed on up to 6 consecutive months, up to $250 per month. Residents are able to apply on Nov. 1.
“Everyone is impacted by COVID. All of our groceries are going up, children have been learning at home virtually, we’ve all been working from home virtually,” Audubon Community Services Manager Angie Ditch said.
The self-declaration of COVID-19 impact can range from different reasons, as Ditch believes everything that one does could be considered to be impacted by COVID.
To request assistance from Audubon Area Community Services, head to their website.
