NEED FOR HEATING ASSISTANCE GROWS
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 -- 11:48 AM
The Clark County Department of Social Services is preparing for a huge increase in the number of households applying for heating assistance grants.The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program assisted around 1,400 Clark County households last year. Marianne Schock says officials are predicting a 60% to 70% increase in caseloads this year.
"The Department of Energy has allowed the states to increase their income guidelines. Last year, it was 150% of the federal poverty level, this year, it's 60% of the state's median income," Schock says.
That means more families will qualify. Plus, with the economy depressed, more families will likely show lower incomes.
Clark County hasn?t run out of allotted funds in past years.
"That has not been happening in our county. This year, there has been additional $2-million allocated to WHEAP," she says.
Households must provide documentation for all household gross income for the last 3 months, social security cards and heating/electric costs for the last 12 months.
For more information, contact Marianne at 743-5322.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.