Beginning Nov. 4, Audubon Area Community Service will initiate its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), offering financial assistance for home energy costs for applicable patrons across the seven-county Green River Area Development District (GRADD).
LIHEAP serves to help those in need during the colder months, as the program runs Nov. 4-March 31, 2020. AACS has enough funds to serve residents in its service counties who meet the low-income eligibility standards for LIHEAP.
LIHEAP is broken down into two components, the first of which runs Nov. 4- Dec. 13. The subsidy component does not require a residence’s electric or fuel source to be shut off, or in danger of being shut off, but those who qualify must meet specific financial guidelines.
“During subsidy, all eligible households at or below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines with total liquid resources at or below $2,000, or $3,000 if at least one person in the household is 60 years or older, or disabled and are responsible for home energy costs — whether directly or as an undesignated portion of rent — will be provided with assistance,” AACS states. “If, however, a member of an eligible household has an illness which requires liquid resources to be accessed regularly for medical and living expenses, liquid resources can be as much as $4,000.”
AACS says benefit amounts will be based on household poverty level and the type of fuel for heating. LIHEAP applications are taken at AACS locations in Daviess, Henderson, Hancock, McClean, Ohio, Union and Webster counties.
Those wishing to apply will need to bring proof of social security numbers or permanent residence cards for each member of the household, proof of all household’s income from the previous month, the most current heating bill, a statement from the landlord if heating are included in the rent, a statement from the utility company if participating in a pre-pay electric program, and the account number and name on the account for main heating fuel sources and electric bill.
LIHEAP’s crisis component doesn’t begin until Jan. 6, 2020 and will run until available funds have been expended, not to exceed March 31, 2020.
By Feb. 23 of last year, LIHEAP still had $1 million left in funds available to assist those in need. Social Services Support Director Robyn Mattingly said then that the program has been extremely beneficial for those needing assistance with their winter utility bills and who meet the low-income standards outlined in the agreement.
The crisis component will differ from the subsidy component in that applicants must present the aforementioned documents and, additionally, must have received a disconnection notice, or be within four days of running out of fuel if wood, coal, propane or kerosene is used for the heat source.
“Benefits for the crisis component may take the form of fuel deliveries or service reconnections,” AACS states. “Crisis relief will be provided within 48 hours, or 18 hours if facing a life-threatening situation.”
The LIHEAP project is funded, in part, under a contract with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services with funds from the Community Services Block Grant Act of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
