HHS Releases $191.5 Million To Help Low-Income families With Home Heating Costs
HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced the release of an additional $191.5 million in
Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) funds for states, territories and tribes. Today's
release brings the total amount made available so far this winter to almost $1.65 billion.
LIHEAP is a block grant program that helps eligible families pay the costs of heating their homes
in the winter and cooling their homes in the summer. About 4.6 million low-income households
receive assistance each year.
HHS will provide $99.4 million of this amount from LIHEAP contingency funds, which are being released
to states due to increases in many home heating fuel prices and the colder than normal January weather
in a number of states.
All states will receive a portion of these funds, with $40 million allocated according to the same
formula as the base block grant. The remaining funds will be provided to the 18 states (Alaska,
Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New
York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia)
and the District of Columbia that experienced January temperatures that were much colder than normal.
The remaining $92.1 million going to states reflects the enactment of a full-year appropriation that
provides a higher funding level than could be made available under the continuing resolution that
funded LIHEAP through most of January.
HHS provides LIHEAP funds to states, territories and tribes, which run the programs that provide
heating assistance to low-income residents. Individuals can apply for heating assistance through
their state LIHEAP offices.
The list of state allocations is available at
www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20040205.html.
These totals include funds that will be provided directly to tribes in these states.
