SW VA Families Urged To Seek State Heat Help
10/22/08 Morning Edition
http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/consumer/article/sw_va_families_urged_to_seek_state_heat_help/15346/
10/22/08 Morning Edition
http://www.tricities.com/tri/news/local/consumer/article/sw_va_families_urged_to_seek_state_heat_help/15346/
As the temperatures go down and home heating costs continue to go up the Commonwealth is chipping in to offer heat help to families in need.
The Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is pumping $127-million into Virginia to help with winter heating bills. The program helps heat up 105,000 homes across the Commonwealth annually.
You must meet set income eligibility standards to qualify for energy assistance.
Energy Assistance Eligibility Your monthly income can not exceed the following $1,127 per 1 Person Household $2,297 per 4 Person Household
Bristol, Virginia officials say the program helps offset the cost of heating your home not pay the entire bill.
“Fuel is governed to the type of heating that you have; whether it be oil or electric or wood. We provide that if you’re eligible up to a figure that the government will give us,” said Bristol, Virginia Department of Social Services Director Bob Gose.
So far the department has taken in 200 applications for heat help since October 14th. Last year they serviced 720 homes in Bristol, VA.
“It’s surprising that we’ve got that many people under that much income a year,” said Gose.
Grose says the federal officials review the Bristol applications and apply that against the amount of money allotted throughout the Virginia. That’s how they determine how much money will be allotted per household.
Once that’s complete, local social services will know how much money will be allotted per person in Southwest Virginia.
Applications are due by November 14th and Bristol officials plan to know how much money homes will receive by mid-December.
“We won’t know what the grant will be until mid-December, and then people will start to see the checks shortly after that,” said Gose. ###
The Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is pumping $127-million into Virginia to help with winter heating bills. The program helps heat up 105,000 homes across the Commonwealth annually.
You must meet set income eligibility standards to qualify for energy assistance.
Energy Assistance Eligibility Your monthly income can not exceed the following $1,127 per 1 Person Household $2,297 per 4 Person Household
Bristol, Virginia officials say the program helps offset the cost of heating your home not pay the entire bill.
“Fuel is governed to the type of heating that you have; whether it be oil or electric or wood. We provide that if you’re eligible up to a figure that the government will give us,” said Bristol, Virginia Department of Social Services Director Bob Gose.
So far the department has taken in 200 applications for heat help since October 14th. Last year they serviced 720 homes in Bristol, VA.
“It’s surprising that we’ve got that many people under that much income a year,” said Gose.
Grose says the federal officials review the Bristol applications and apply that against the amount of money allotted throughout the Virginia. That’s how they determine how much money will be allotted per household.
Once that’s complete, local social services will know how much money will be allotted per person in Southwest Virginia.
Applications are due by November 14th and Bristol officials plan to know how much money homes will receive by mid-December.
“We won’t know what the grant will be until mid-December, and then people will start to see the checks shortly after that,” said Gose. ###
