September 21, 2010

RI Receives Nearly $700,000 in Emergency LIHEAP Funding

WASHINGTON, DC -- In an effort to help Rhode Islanders who are struggling to pay their energy bills, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced Rhode Island will receive an additional $694,751 in emergency Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency funding.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is releasing the emergency funds this week, in addition to the approximately $33.7 million in LIHEAP funds that Senator Reed helped secure for Rhode Island earlier this year, brining Rhode Island's total to $34,443,931.

"LIHEAP is a lifeline for more than 37,000 families throughout the state, especially for elderly residents and those with young children. With winter approaching it is important to provide additional assistance for those in need," said U.S. Senator Reed (D-RI), a long-time champion of LIHEAP who had urged the release of these funds.

Rhode Islanders needing LIHEAP assistance may contact their local Community Action Program. There are seven Community Action Program (CAP) Agencies located throughout the state where families can apply for LIHEAP assistance. Each CAP agency is responsible for intake screening of clients, authorizing and disbursing payments, and maintaining records of expenditures. An applicant's residence determines which intake site a household must apply (for a full list, see below).

Starting October 1^st, households may arrange an appointment at their local CAP to determine if they are eligible for federal LIHEAP assistance. For information on eligibility guidelines, go to: http://www.energy.ri.gov/lowincome/incomeguidelines.php

The funds released today are the remaining from FY 2010 LIHEAP contingency fund available for this fiscal year, and are in addition to the $4.5 billion in LIHEAP block grant funding and the $490 million in emergency contingency funds received by states earlier this year. In total, Congress appropriated $5.1 billion for LIHEAP in Fiscal Year 2010.

In addition to helping eligible families pay for home heating and cooling costs, LIHEAP funding can also go towards helping weatherize eligible homes to reduce future costs.

Rhode Island's seven CAP agencies are:

East Bay Community Action Program

100 Bullocks Point Avenue, Riverside, RI 02915

Phone: (401) 437-0006

Web site: www.ebcap.org

Districts: Bristol, East Providence, Jamestown, Little Compton, Barrington, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Warren, Middletown

South County Community Action

1935 Kingstown Road, Wakefield, RI 02879

Phone: (401) 789-3016

Web site: www.sccainc.org

Districts: Hopkinton, Narragansett, North Kingstown, Westerly, Exeter, South Kingstown, West Greenwich, Charlestown, New Shoreham, Richmond

Westbay Community Action