LIHEAP energy-assistance program began Wednesday

January 04, 2012|Journal staff report | news@jessaminejournal.com

Jessamine County’s Blue Grass Community Action Partnership began operating the “crisis” portion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) on Jan. 4.

The program is operated on a first-come, first-served basis until federal funds are exhausted. LIHEAP assists households that are in a home-heating crisis. The deepening of cold winter weather combined with rising utility costs leave many households unable to fully pay heating bills or purchase sufficient bulk fuel to keep their families safe and warm. Blue Grass Community Action Partnership (BGCAP) aims to help.

Last year, more than 2,000 residents of Jessamine County received financial assistance and emergency services from the LIHEAP crisis component.

A household shall be considered to be in a home-heating-crisis situation when the household meets the basic LIHEAP eligibility criteria and:

• the household is within four days of running out of fuel if bulk fuel (coal, fuel oil, propane, kerosene or wood) is the heat source;

• the household has received a past-due or disconnect notice if natural gas or electric is the heat source; or

• the household’s home-heating costs are included as un undesignated portion of the rent, and the household has received an eviction notice for non-payment of rent from the landlord.

Pre-paid electric customers are eligible to receive LIHEAP assistance if they certify that they have 10 days or fewer of pre-paid electric remaining.

For all bulk fuels (wood, coal, propane, fuel oil, kerosene), verification of a crisis situation may be self-declaration by the applicant. For natural-gas- and electric-heated households, the applicant must present an appropriate disconnect notice from the utility company.

Applications will be taken at 213 S. Main St. in Nicholasville from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday. For more information, call 859-885-3512.

LIHEAP is a statewide initiative sponsored by Community Action Kentucky in partnership with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. For more information, visit www.bluegrasscommunityaction.org.

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