Call for Restoring Full Funding to Home Energy Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – With a fresh batch of snow expected this weekend, Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Malden), dean of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation, and Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) today welcomed news from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of the release of $863 million of funding through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Massachusetts will receive $33 million, which in addition to the almost $100 million already released, brings the Commonwealth’s total to $133 million in FY2012. Last year, LIHEAP helped more than 200,000 Massachusetts households.
 
“With temperatures dropping and energy bills beginning to pile up, this release of funding will help steady the home energy support the Commonwealth can provide to Massachusetts families this winter,” said Rep. Markey. “No household should suffer chills in order to pay bills this winter, and this LIHEAP funding will help families stay warm during these tough economic times. I was extremely disappointed that the final national funding levels for LIHEAP were cut $1.2 billion from the previous year, and I plan to fight to fully restore home energy assistance funding in next year’s budget.”
 
“We’ve got seniors and working people for whom this money is the only thing that stands between them and awful, unthinkable choices about going without food or medicine,” said Senator Kerry. “As temperatures keep dropping, this money can’t come soon enough. We’ve got to double down on the work to provide families and seniors protection during bitter New England winters.”
 
The Energy Information Agency (EIA) projects average household home heating oil expenditures will increase eight percent and reach record highs this winter. The EIA also forecasts increases of three percent for consumers heating with natural gas and seven percent for those using propane. The National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association anticipates 9.4 million households will seek assistance with their energy costs through the LIHEAP program this winter, up from 8.9 million last year.
 
Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance or for more information, contact the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development at 800-632-8175 or at http://www.mass.gov/hed/community/energy/low-income-home-energy-assistance-liheap.html