Heating Assistance Available for Low Income Households

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced that the state is increasing the amount of assistance provided this winter to low income Illinois households through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

In August, Ryan brought attention to the need for increased federal LIHEAP funds via letters sent to members of the Illinois congressional delegation. Earlier this week, Illinois was informed that it will receive an additional $24.7 million in federal funding to help low-income households meet their energy costs.

"Rising natural gas prices will create an extra burden on all low-income households this winter and particularly those on fixed incomes," Ryan said. "To help reduce the impact of the price increases, I have directed the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to adjust benefit levels to lessen the added burden of the fuel price increases."

Total funding for the LIHEAP program in Illinois this winter is approximately $140 million, with $75 million from the federal Low Income Energy Assistance Block Grant and $65 million from the state's Supplemental Low Income Energy Assistance fund. Last winter, $112 million was available from all funding sources.

"We realize that households that heat with natural gas are facing some steep price increases this winter," said DCCA Director Pam McDonough. "At the governor's direction, we have increased benefit levels by an average of 20% to these households to help offset the increases. For example, a very low-income family of four living in Chicago will be eligible to receive $587 towards their gas bill this winter, compared to $470 last year."

The energy assistance program is geared to households with incomes up to 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. A family of one can have a monthly income of no more than $870, a two person household no more than $1,172 and a family of four an income no greater than $1,776. Benefits are provided directly to the household's gas or electric utility or delivered fuel dealer for households that heat with fuel oil or propane.

Households with elderly or disabled members and those disconnected from their utilities are encouraged to apply before November 1st at locations throughout the state (See attached list). All other households may begin submitting applications after November 1, 2000.

Benefits include repairs of inoperable residential heating systems, payments to utilities or fuel dealers on behalf of eligible households to help reduce energy bills, and emergency assistance to help disconnected households regain energy services. In limited instances where heat is included in rent and rent is greater than 30 percent of a household's income, a small cash payment may be made directly to the household.

LIHEAP is operated throughout the state by a network of local agencies that work with utilities, determine eligibility and provide benefits to households. Anyone wishing to apply should contact the local agency in the county where they live. Additional assistance is available by calling the toll-free LIHEAP information line at 1-800-252-8643.

BCMW Community Services, Inc.
909 E. Rexford Street in Centralia 618/532-7388
Counties Served: Bond, Clinton, Marion and Washington

Carver Community Action Agency
235 E. Main Street in Galesburg 309/342-0158
County Served: Knox

CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation
1805 S. Banker Street in Effingham 217/342-2193
Counties Served: Christian, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery,
Moultrie and Shelby

Central Illinois Economic Development Corp.
1800 5th Street in Lincoln 217/732-2159
Counties Served: DeWitt, Logan, Mason, Menard and Piatt

Community and Economic Dev. Association of Cook County, Inc. (CEDA)
208 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 850 in Chicago 312/456-4100
Suburban Cook County (Outside City of Chicago)

CEDA-Chicago Project
208 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 850 in Chicago 312/795-8800
City of Chicago

Community Contacts, Inc.
1035 E. State Street in Geneva 630/232-9530 (Kane) 815/758-3835 (DeKalb)
Counties Served: DeKalb and Kane

Decatur-Macon County Opportunities Corp.
1122 E. Marietta Street in Decatur 217/428-2193
County Served: Macon

DuPage County Dept. of Human Resources
421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton 630/682-7000
County Served: DuPage

East Central Illinois Community Action Agency, Inc.
56 N. Vermilion Street in Danville 217/443-2705
Counties Served: Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion

Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc.
115 S. Kentucky Street in Greenup 217/923-3113
Counties Served: Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas,
Edgar, Jasper, Lawrence and Richland

Fulton County Health Dept.
700 East Oak Street in Canton 309/647-1134
County Served: Fulton

Illinois Valley Economic Development Corporation
223 S. Macoupin in Gillespie 217/839-4431
Counties Served: Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin

Kankakee County Community Services, Inc.
341 N. St. Joseph Avenue in Kankakee 815/933-7883
County Served: Kankakee

Kendall-Grundy Community Action
500A Countryside Center in Yorkville 630/553-9100 (Kendall) 815/941-
3262(Grundy)
Counties Served: Grundy and Kendall

Lake County Community Action Project
102-106 S. Sheridan Road in Waukegan 847/249-4330
County Served: Lake

Madison County Community Development
130 Hillsboro Avenue, Suite 102 in Edwardsville 618/692-7040 ext. 6485
County Served: Madison

McHenry County Housing Authority
1108 N. Seminary in Woodstock 815/338-7752
County Served: McHenry

MCS Community Services
345 W. State Street in Jacksonville 217/243-9404
Counties Served: Cass, Morgan and Scott

Mid Central Community Action, Inc.
923 E. Grove Street in Bloomington 309/829-0691 (McLean) 815/844-
3201 (Livingston)
Counties Served: Livingston and McLean

Northwestern Illinois Community Action Agency
103-109 N. Chicago Avenue in Freeport 815/232-3141
Counties Served: JoDaviess and Stephenson

Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity, Inc.
711 W. McBean Street in Peoria 309/671-3900
County Served: Peoria

Project NOW, Inc.
418 19th Street in Rock Island 309/793-6391
Counties Served: Henry, Mercer and Rock Island

Rockford Human Services Department
1005 S. Court Street in Rockford 815/987-5711
Counties Served: Boone and Winnebago

Sangamon County Department of Community Resources
200 S. 9th Street, Room 311 in Springfield 217/535-3120
County Served: Sangamon

Shawnee Development Council, Inc. School Street in Karnak 618/634-2201 or 634-2373
Counties Served: Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski
and Union

St. Clair County Community Action Agency
19 Public Square, Suite 200 in Belleville 618/277-6790 27 N. Illinois
Street in Belleville 618/257-9246
County Served: St. Clair

Tazwood Community Services, Inc
Field Shopping Center, 2005 S. Main Street in Morton 309/266-9941
Counties Served: Tazewell and Woodford

Tri-County Opportunities Council
405 Emmons Avenue in Rock Falls 800/323-5434
Counties Served: Bureau, Carroll, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Ogle,
Putnam, Stark and Whiteside

Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials
4th & State Sts. in Quincy 217/224-8171
Counties Served: Adams, Brown, Pike and Schuyler

Urban League of Champaign County
314 S. Neil Street in Champaign 217/363-3333
County Served: Champaign

Volunteer Services, Inc./Crosswalk Community Action Agency
410 W. Main Street in West Frankfort 618/937-3581
Counties Served: Franklin, Jefferson and Williamson

Wabash Area Development, Inc.
110 Latham Street in Enfield 618/963-2387 Counties Served: Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Saline, Wabash,
Wayne and White

Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council
1 Industrial Park in Steeleville 618/965-9031
Counties Served: Jackson, Monroe, Perry and Randolph

Western Illinois Regional Council
223 S. Randolph Street in Macomb 309/837-2997
Counties Served: Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, and Warren

Will County Center for Community Concerns
304 N. Scott Street in Joliet 815/722-0722
County Served: Will

The hearing impaired may access all numbers through the State TDD
Relay: 800/526-0844.