Governor Doyle Announces $3.2 Million for Home Heating Emergency Assistance
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle announced today the release of $3.2 million of Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) crisis assistance funds to help low and fixed income households keep their homes warm this upcoming heating season.
“No family in Wisconsin should be forced to choose between food and heat this winter,” Governor Doyle said. “The increasing cost of fuels to heat homes continues to put more pressure on hard working families and their ability to make ends meet. I am pleased that we can make these additional funds available to families who may be faced with a crisis in heating their homes.”
These funds will be used to assist low-income households facing out of fuel emergencies, prevent disconnections from their utilities, help to pay their winter heating bills, and respond to other similar crisis situations. The funds will be directed to county social services departments, tribal agencies and community agencies that administer energy assistance benefits under the direction of the Department of Administration’s Division of Energy Services.
Reports show that oil prices recently topped $80 a barrel and the price of heating oil is projected to exceed $3 per gallon this winter. A 250-gallon tank of heating oil lasts for approximately four to six weeks when temperatures are freezing and costs about $600 to fill.
Households eligible for energy assistance may receive payments under the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and the state public benefits program. Payments depend upon household size, income level, and home energy costs. Wisconsin’s Home Energy Assistance Program helps households with income below 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($30,975 a year for a family of four) pay for home energy costs.
To receive more information about applying for home energy assistance please call 1-800-522-3014.
“No family in Wisconsin should be forced to choose between food and heat this winter,” Governor Doyle said. “The increasing cost of fuels to heat homes continues to put more pressure on hard working families and their ability to make ends meet. I am pleased that we can make these additional funds available to families who may be faced with a crisis in heating their homes.”
These funds will be used to assist low-income households facing out of fuel emergencies, prevent disconnections from their utilities, help to pay their winter heating bills, and respond to other similar crisis situations. The funds will be directed to county social services departments, tribal agencies and community agencies that administer energy assistance benefits under the direction of the Department of Administration’s Division of Energy Services.
Reports show that oil prices recently topped $80 a barrel and the price of heating oil is projected to exceed $3 per gallon this winter. A 250-gallon tank of heating oil lasts for approximately four to six weeks when temperatures are freezing and costs about $600 to fill.
Households eligible for energy assistance may receive payments under the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and the state public benefits program. Payments depend upon household size, income level, and home energy costs. Wisconsin’s Home Energy Assistance Program helps households with income below 150 percent of the federal poverty level ($30,975 a year for a family of four) pay for home energy costs.
To receive more information about applying for home energy assistance please call 1-800-522-3014.
posted by Cheryl Hentz at 1:35 PM
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