The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week the release of $311 million in grants to help low-income homeowners and renters meet home energy costs under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Currently, HHS is directed to release those funds to states, territories, tribes and the District of Columbia. The assistance was announced by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
“Many families are burdened with making difficult financial decisions when it comes to their home energy needs,” said Sebelius. “The release of these funds will help those low-income individuals and families pay their energy bills, reduce those high energy costs and get the basic essentials they need to sustain a healthy and quality standard of living.”
LIHEAP helps those qualified families with home energy needs: heating, cooling and insulating for efficiency, for example. Through that assistance, families can then support their heating and electricity needs, as well as make weather-related home improvements and prevent service interruptions.
“Countless families across the country continue to endure tough economic conditions,” said David A. Hansell, HHS acting assistant secretary for children and families. “These additional LIHEAP funds will provide assistance to individuals who face the troubles of paying their electric, natural gas or other energy bills while meeting other essential household expenses.”
Including the recent grant, under resolutions since October 1, LIHEAP funding totals $4.2 billion for FY 2011.
For a list of state funding allocations, click here.
