Record number of households to seek home heating assistance (AP)

[somone]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/02/08/home_heating_assistance_seen_at_record_high/

Home heating assistance seen at record high
By Jonathan Fahey, AP Energy Writer

NEW YORK — High energy prices, high unemployment and a cold winter are prompting a record number of households to seek home heating assistance. The National Energy Assistance Directors' Association will announce Wednesday that 8.9 million households are expected to qualify for financial help this winter, up from 8.3 million last winter. It's the third year in a row the number of households needing assistance has set a new high.

The chief reason is the economy, according to Mark Wolfe, Executive Director of NEADA. "We have this group who weren't poor before the recession, who are poor now and scrambling for whatever they can get," Wolfe says. "It's a tough situation."...

Cold weather throughout much of the country has forced homeowners to keep the heat cranked up, and prices of some fuels rose sharply. The average cost for a recipient to heat their home with heating oil has reached a record $2,291 this season, according to NEADA. Heating oil prices were pushed higher by crude oil prices that rose steadily throughout the fall. Propane also reached a record high.

NEADA says some states are projecting an increase of at least 15 percent in the number of eligible applications for assistance. Among the states anticipating the biggest jump include Vermont (64%), Florida (50%), Massachusetts (21%), Wyoming (20%), Louisiana (20%), Texas (17%), and Mississippi (15%).

[Brickbat]

1. Better get while the getting's good.

[Better Believe It]

7. The getting just got really bad. Government low-income heating assistance to be cut almost in half!

[Brickbat]

8. I know. That's what I was alluding to.

[HereSince1628]

2. So this is what's behind the recommended budget cut...

there is so much need that meeting it must be denied.

The robber barons are once again pushing beyond the limits of what the traffic will bear.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. BP, Exxon, Chevron, etc?

I heard they pay too much in taxes and get almost no profits....

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. These companies can barely pay their heating and cooling bills

They need taxbreaks and subsides.

[somone]

11. Corporate bank accounts are at record low

Only $1.93 trillion in cash :sarcasm:

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. And they're talking about cutting these programs?

How can this be?

[ananda]

4. We still burn money in war and military occupation though.

nt

[Better Believe It]

6. President Obama to Propose Big Cut to Low-Income Heating Assistance

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x385588

[dkf]

10. "The chief reason is the economy

according to Mark Wolfe, Executive Director of NEADA. "We have this group who weren't poor before the recession, who are poor now and scrambling for whatever they can get," Wolfe says. "It's a tough situation."..."

Frankly if the economy doesn't improve the budget is going to be even worse and more cuts will be made.

[ProSense]

12. The program is funded at $5.1 billion this year

HHS releases $200 million in emergency funding to states for energy assistance

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today the release of $200 million in emergency contingency funding to help eligible low-income homeowners and renters meet home energy costs. These Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency funds will provide states, territories, tribes and the District of Columbia with additional assistance to pay heating and other home energy costs.

“During the cold winter months, heating your home becomes more than a matter of comfort,” said Sebelius. “The release of these emergency funds will help low-income families and individuals afford the high energy costs rather than force them to make cutbacks on other essentials.”

LIHEAP helps eligible families pay for home heating, cooling and other energy costs, as well as helping to weatherize eligible families’ homes.

The $200 million in emergency contingency funds released today are in addition to the basic LIHEAP funding made available to states under the continuing resolutions since October 1 totaling $3.9 billion for Fiscal Year 2011.

“Low-income individuals and families are hit hard by energy costs,” said David A. Hansell, HHS acting assistant secretary for children and families. “We are releasing these emergency funds to states to help meet the critical needs of vulnerable children, seniors and families.”

For a complete listing of state allocations of funds released today go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2011/fy11_liheap_funds.html.