Utility assistance program low on funds
More than half of the federal funding for energy assistance in Mid Missouri has been spent.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, provides financial help to the elderly, disabled, and poor with their utility bills.
While January and February are the coldest months of the year, it’s often when the money for the program runs out.
As of Tuesday, 80 percent of LIHEAP’s funding in Mid Missouri has been spent.
Officials told ABC 17 News they are expecting to run out by the end of this month.
If that happens, it could leave thousands in the cold for February.
Angela Hirsch, the community services director at Central Missouri Community Action, said this year the need is great.
“There is always a much higher need than we have funding to meet, unfortunately it’s a reality,” said Hirsch.
However, a better reality than last year when a significant lack of funding almost shut the program down.
“It was almost a wait and see game, I’ll be honest we almost had to shut down the program, but we didn’t,” said Hirsch last December.
In the past five years CMCA has had to cut 20 positions who worked to provide LIHEAP services.
Now four people spend hours processing 8,000 applications.
“We have to verify all of the information in the application, verify the family size, the income all of that and that takes time,” said Hirsch.
The average time CMCA is able to process is an application is around 20 days.
“Particularly when it gets cold, like it has been getting this week, those calls increase so I do ask the public to be patient this time of year,” said Hirsch.
Funds will be given out to families in need until the money runs out.
To put in perspective how much federal funding LIHEAP has lost over the years, in 2010 the program has more than $5 billion.
This year it is around $3 billion.
The state of Missouri gets $17 million split between 19 community action groups.
For those needing energy assistance this winter you can apply until March 31.
Here is the link to 2015 application.
