Federal agency releases heating assistance funds

October 21, 2003

Bismarck, N.D. - The federal Department of Health and Human Services has awarded North Dakota $5.77 million to provide heating assistance to low-income households through December 2003. The funds are part of $844 million released today to all states and to tribal energy assistance programs.

The federally-funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides important relief to low-income families struggling with seasonal energy costs. LIHEAP helps eligible individuals and families with heating and insulating costs in the winter, and cooling costs in the summer.

Applications are available through county social service offices, community action agencies, tribal LIHEAP programs, and through other agencies that meet human service needs in North Dakota. To qualify for the program, a household must meet income and asset guidelines and must provide proof of income and heating costs.

Last year about 14,200 low-income households in North Dakota participated in the state program, and individual tribal LIHEAP programs served tribal members living on reservations in the state. The federal government granted North Dakota $11.3 million in regular LIHEAP funding and $1.2 million in contingency funding during the last federal fiscal year.

Contacts:

Ronald Knutson, LIHEAP Program Administrator, (701) 328-4882, or
Heather Steffl, Public Information Officer, (701) 328-4933

 

 Top of page    Back to previous page