Gov. Blagojevich to Make Over 120 State Facilities Available as Warming Centers to Help Illinoisans Stay Warm, Lower Heating Bills

CHICAGO - As part of his Keep Warm Illinois campaign, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich announced today that he will make 122 state facilities available as Warming Centers starting December 1, 2005. The Warming Centers will provide Illinoisans a place to stay warm and comfortable if they turn down their thermostats during the day to lower their heating bills. Gov. Blagojevich will also send a letter tomorrow to all 1,116 mayors in the Illinois Municipal League asking them to assist in this important effort by identifying suitable buildings that can serve as additional Warming Centers in their communities.

 

"With heating costs expected to climb this winter, Illinois residents - especially our seniors and low income families - will be hit hard in the pocketbook.  That's why we're giving people a safe place to go, so they can turn down their thermostats at home during the day to help conserve energy and lower their heating bills.  I thank the Illinois Municipal League for joining me in this important effort," said Gov. Blagojevich. 

 

"With potential high heating costs over the coming heating season, local officials and community organizations should be prepared to assist those in need," said Illinois Municipal League executive director Ken Alderson.

 

In his letter to the Municipal League members, Gov. Blagojevich urged mayors to reach out to local service agencies, community centers, churches, schools, libraries, hospitals and other organizations to ask that their facilities be made available to local residents this winter. 

 

"While we do not know how many people will need warming centers, we must be prepared so that no one risks their health and safety while trying to cut back on heating costs this winter," Gov. Blagojevich said in the letter.

 

As part of the Governor's Keep Warm Illinois campaign, the Department of Human Services (DHS) will open their 116 local offices statewide to the public and the Illinois Tollway will make the six Tollway oases in northern Illinois available as warming centers.  State officials are encouraging Illinoisans to use these warming centers to help lower their heating bills. Homeowners can save approximately 3 percent on their energy costs for every degree the thermostat is lowered, although they should be no lower than 55 degrees.

 

Last month, Gov Blagojevich launched the Keep Warm Illinois campaign, a multi-agency, comprehensive effort to help families reduce their heating bills by conserving energy and weatherizing their homes, and offering warming centers throughout the state. The list of warming centers locations is available at the Keep Warm Illinois website (www.keepwarm.illinois.gov) or at the Keep Warm Illinois hotline (1-877-411-WARM).

 

Warming centers will be located at DHS facilities and will be open during normal business hours, Monday through Friday.

 

"The warming centers will be an excellent place for Illinois families to stay safe and warm this winter," said DHS Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D.  "People who want to lower their thermostats during the day in order to save costs on their utilities are encouraged to take advantage of the warming centers."

 

The Keep Warm Illinois website (www.keepwarm.illinois.gov) also offers various no-cost and low-cost energy saving tips, a web-based tool to conduct a home energy audit, links to energy assistance programs and other resources.  In addition, the Keep Warm Illinois hotline (1-877-411-WARM) is another resource for Illinois residents to learn how to save energy and get energy assistance.

 

 

Energy Savings Workshops.  The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is partnering with community colleges across the state to hold workshops that offer important information on how people can improve the efficiency of their homes. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services is organizing community workshops statewide through community-based organizations and local governments. At these workshops, Illinois residents will have access to information from energy conservation experts on how to reduce overall energy costs.

Winter Assistance Days.  Joining forces with over 20 state and local leaders and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Gov. Blagojevich coordinated a series of Winter Assistance Events scheduled across the state throughout the cold season to offer members of low-income households the opportunity to apply for Low Income Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grants, receive free weatherization kits and learn important information on several state healthcare programs. November 1^st marked the start of the open enrollment period for low-income families eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP) coordinated by the apply for grants that will help them afford their high gas bills this winter.

Illinois Energy Efficient Affordable Housing Construction Program.  The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has grants available to non-profit housing developers that include energy efficient building practices in the rehab or construction of affordable housing units.  These building practices often bring energy savings between 50% and 75%.  

 

Winter Storm Preparation. Illinois experiences five severe winter storms each year, on average. Nearly 80 people in the United States die from winter storms and extreme cold every year, which is more than the fatalities due to tornadoes. The hazards posed by winter storms and extreme cold can be catastrophic. So, the Department of Emergency Management will offer a Winter Storm Preparation manual that includes important information on actions to take now that will increase resident's chances of surviving winter storms and extreme cold.

Keep Warm Illinois Leadership Summit. The Governor has called upon statewide leaders from the consumer advocacy, social service, business, and philanthropic communities to meet at a Keep Warm Illinois scheduled for November 30^th. This group's charge will be to recommend ways in which the private sector should join with government to help everyone in Illinois conserve energy and stay warm and safe this winter

Office of Emergency Energy Assistance. Last month, the Governor appointed a Special Director of Emergency Energy Assistance to marshal resources from the public and private sectors and to coordinate assistance to vulnerable populations impacted by record-high heating costs.  The Special Director will work with utilities, the ICC and other state agencies to ensure the public's best interest is protected.  Gov. Blagojevich was able to successfully negotiate with the Illinois utility companies to have them waive administrative re-connection fees and security deposits for LIHEAP customers, so grant funds can go directly toward covering actual usage charges, allowing the state to help more households cover heating costs.

 

Gov. Blagojevich also called upon Illinois utility companies to waive reconnection fees and security deposits for customers who are receiving energy assistance from the state. Ameren, Nicor, Peoples Energy and Commonwealth Edison now agree that these additional charges should not prevent these customers from getting their home energy service restored. This agreement is helping the state's energy assistance resources go farther so that as many families as possible who've lost utility service can get it restored in time for winter. The Governor also called upon President Bush and Congressional leaders to approve additional federal funding for energy assistance programs that help low-income families pay their utility bills.

 

Keep Warm Illinois Warming Centers

Office	Address
Chicago - Austin	408 North Laramie Avenue
Chicago - Calumet Park	831 West 119th Street
Chicago - Englewood	5323 South Western Avenue
Chicago - Garfield	500 North Pulaski Road
Chicago - Humboldt Park	2753 West North Avenue
Chicago - Lower North	2650 West Fulton Street
Chicago - Michigan	70 East 21st Street
Chicago - Northwest	4105 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago - Oakland	610 West Root Street
Chicago - Park Manor	1642 West 59th Street
Chicago - Western	3910 West Ogden
Chicago - Wicker Park	1279 North Milwaukee
Chicago - Woodlawn	915 East 63rd Street
Melrose Park - West Suburban	2701 West Lake Street
Skokie - Northern	8020 St. Louis Avenue
Adams County, Quincy	300 Maine Street
Alexander County, Cairo	1401 Washington Avenue
Boone County, Belvidere	2090 Pearl Street
Bureau County, Princeton	225 Backbone Road
Calhoun County, Hardin	807 West Main Street
Carroll County, Mt. Carroll	820 South Mill Road
Cass County, Beardstown	300 East Second Street
Champaign County, Champaign	801 North Walnut Street
Christian County, Taylorville	1100 North Cheney
Clark County,  Marshall	315 South 14th Street
Clay County, Louisville	850 Bryant Street
Clinton County, Carlyle	1130 12th Street
Coles County, Charleston	119 West State Street
Crawford County, Robinson	1110 North Allen Street
Cumberland County, Toledo	200 South Indiana
Dekalb County, Dekalb	1629 Afton Road
Dewitt County, Clinton	1275 Route 54 East
Douglas County, Tuscola	207 East Ficklin
DuPage County, Villa Park	146 W. Roosevelt Road
Edgar County, Paris	11773 Illinois Highway 1
Effingham County, Effingham	925 East Fayette Avenue
Fayette County, Vandalia	228 West Johnson Street
Ford County, Paxton	1500 West Ottawa Road
Franklin County, Benton	1602 North Main Street
Fulton County, Lewiston	1329 North Main Street
Gallatin County, Shawneetown	9525 Gold Hill Road
Greene County, Carrollton	145 Walnut Street
Hancock County, Carthage	2005 East  U.S. Hwy 136
Henry County, Kewanee	125 West South Street
Iroquois County, Watseka	806 East Walnut Street
Jefferson County, Mt. Vernon	333 Potomac Boulevard
Jersey County, Jerseyville	110 North Jefferson Street
JoDaviess County, Galena	708 South West Street
Kane County, Aurora	361 Old Indian Trail
Kane County, Elgin	600 South State Street
Kankakee County, Kankakee	285 N. Schuyler Avenue
Kendall County, Yorkville	1304 Game Farm Road
Knox County, Galesburg	477 East Main Street
Lake County, Park City	3235 West Belvidere
LaSalle County, Ottawa	700 Centennial Drive
Lawrence County, Lawrenceville	R.R. 1, Box 418
Livingston County, Pontiac	905 Custer Avenue
Logan County, Lincoln	1550 4th Street
Macon County, Decatur	707 East Wood St.
Macoupin County, Carlinville	340 East Wilson
Madison County, East Alton	608 West St. Louis Avenue
Madison County, Granite City	1925 Madison Avenue
Marion County, Centralia	800 South Locust Street
Marshall,County Henry	511 School Street
Mason County, Havanna	323 West Main Street
Massac County, Metroplis	2301 Metropolis Street
McDonough County, Macomb	1026 East Jackson Street
McHenry County, Woodstock	2215 Lake Shore Drive
McLean County, Bloomington	501 West Washington
Mercer County, Aledo	601 S. E. 19th Avenue
Montgomery County, Hillsboro	210 East Fairground Avenue
Morgan County, Jacksonville	45-47 South Central Park Plaza
Moultrie County, Sullivan	625 South Hamilton Street
Ogle County, Oregon	106 North Second Street
Peoria County, Peoria	2301 N.E. Adams Street
Perry County, DuQuoin	314 North Maple Street
Piatt County, Monticello	1200 Bear Lane
Pike Count, Pittsfield	201 N. Mississippi
Pope County, Golconda	106 North Market Street
Pulaski County, Mounds	422 South Blanche Street
Randolph Street, Chester	870 Lehmen Drive
Richland County, Olney	1406 Martin Street
Rock Island County, Rock Island	2821 Fifth Street
Saline  County, Harrisburg	320 East Raymond Street
Sangamon County, Springfield	100 South Martin Luther King Drive
Schuyler County, Rushville	111 East Washington Street
Shelby County, Shelbyville	610 West Main Street
St. Clair County, Belleville	1220 Centreville Avenue
St. Clair County, St. Louis	225 North 9th Street
Stark County, Toulon	213 West Main Street
Stephenson County, Freeport	1631 South Galena Avenue
Tazewell County, Pekin	200 South Second Street
Vermilion County, Danville	220 South Bowman Avenue
Wabash County, Mt. Carmel	229 West 2nd Street
Warren County,  Monmouth	1245 South Main Street
White County, Carmi	1112 Oak Street
Whiteside County, Sterling	2605 Woodlawn Road
Will County, Joliet	45 E. Webster Street
Williamson County, Marion	1107 West DeYoung
Winnebago County, Rockford	1111 North Avon Street
Woodford County, Eureka	107 North Major Street
Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education (ICRE) Wood - District office, Chicago	1151 S Wood St
Chicago Heights	1010 Dixie Highway, 4th Floor
Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago	1279 N Milwaukee Ave
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), Chicago	10 W 35th St, 4th Floor
Ford City	7600 S Pulaski Rd
Rockford HSP	420 Financial Court
Joliet	1617 W Jefferson St
Downers Grove	2901 Finley Road, Suite 109
Waukegan	2740 W Grand Ave
Aurora	888 S Edgelawn Dr, Suite 1771
Champaign	1307 N Mattis Avenue
E. St. Louis	601 James R Thompson Blvd, Building E
Riverbend	606 W St Louis Ave
Mt. Vernon	333 Potomac Blvd, Suite F
Anna	1000 N Main St, PO Box 585
Springfield-North Walnut office	1124 N Walnut St
Belvidere Oasis	2510 Pearl Street
De Kalb Oasis	2700 N. Crego Road
Des Plaines Oasis	1960 S. Mount Prospect Road
Hinsdale Oasis	5800 Tri-State Toll Rd
Lake Forest Oasis	13783 West Oasis Service Rd
Lincoln Oasis, South Holland	700 E. Tri State
O'Hare Oasis, Schiller Park	10201 Belle Plaine Avenue