Senator Gillibrand of NY Calls for More Applicants for Heating Assistance
Sen. Gillibrand at a 2007 town hall meeting. (image: nytimes.com)
The recession has led many people to apply to LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) for the first time. Vermont’s program could assist record numbers of people, Ohio adjusted its guidelines to be able to help more residents, and Pennsylvania’s LIHEAP didn’t expect to be able to meet the demand for assistance. However, New York State may face a different problem, reports the Hudson Valley’s Times Herald-Record: heating assistance is underused.
According to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), more than 1 million eligible households in the state failed to apply for assistance last year. Since eligible households, especially those with senior citizens, could face tragic consequences if they are unable to heat their home, Gillibrand wants New York’s HEAP money to go to as many homes as possible. “If you have a senior who doesn’t pay her heating bill, she could die,” said Gillibrand.
Gillibrand also called for residents to take advantage of the state’s $500 million dollars devoted to weatherization efforts, courtesy of the federal stimulus package. Those funds could also go toward work that would reduce heating bills, but so far little has been used.
For more information on applying to LIHEAP in your state, go here.
