In response to a recent request from U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Office of Management and Budget today is expected to announce the release of $120 million contingency funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Of that, Maine will receive $7,067,286 to help low income and elderly families who are struggling with record home heating oil prices.
“While it is encouraging news that the Administration has agreed to my request to release these funds, the need for additional assistance remains critical,” said Senator Collins. “This coming will bring a sharp increase in applications for LIHEAP assistance, but many of those requests will be turned down due a shortage of funds. I will continue to seek the release of the remaining contingency funds. In addition, I am working with my colleagues to obtain additional LIHEAP funding for this coming winter in order to help needy families who depend on this assistance”.
Last week, Senator Collins sent a letter to Senate appropriators requesting $2.5 billion in LIHEAP funding be included in any spending package to be considered by the Senate. Senator Collins was joined in signing the letter by a bipartisan group of 47 senators.
Each year, 4.5 million low-income families, including about 48,000 households in Maine, rely on LIHEAP to assist with the costs of heating their homes. LIHEAP is a federal grant program that provides states with annual funding to operate home energy assistance programs for low-income households. In addition to helping to pay energy bills for low-income families and the elderly, LIHEAP helps to fund energy crisis intervention programs, low-cost residential weatherization and other energy-related home repairs.
At current levels, the LIHEAP program can assist only 15 percent of those Americans eligible for assistance.