Governor Announces Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Now Underway

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan today announced that the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in Illinois is now underway. Illinois households with disabled or elderly members, and those who are disconnected from their utilities, may now apply for heating assistance at locations throughout the state.

"While natural gas prices are not expected to reach the staggering levels of last year, it is still important for eligible citizens to start applying for these funds now," Governor Ryan said. "Last winter would have been much worse for thousands of Illinois residents had it not been for the resources available through LIHEAP."

As a result of action initiated last year by Governor Ryan and approved by the Illinois General Assembly, the eligibility levels for the LIHEAP program increased. That action allowed the state to offer assistance to an additional 140,000 households last year. The Governor also lobbied members of the Illinois Congressional delegation last summer for additional LIHEAP funds.

Total funding for the LIHEAP program this winter is approximately $127 million, with $62 million from the federal Low Income Energy Assistance Block Grant and $65 million from the state's Supplemental Low Income Energy Assistance fund. LIHEAP funds are administered through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA).

"Because of Governor Ryan's proactive efforts last year, Illinois received an additional $70 million in federal LIHEAP funds," said DCCA Director Pam McDonough. "Those extra dollars were critical in allowing thousands of Illinois households to meet their winter energy needs. We are now gearing up for the coming winter with the goal of ensuring that low-income households may access resources they need to stay warm and safe."

The energy assistance program is targeted at households with incomes up to 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. A family of one can have a monthly income of no more than $1,074; a two-person household no more than $1,451; and a family of four an income no greater than $2,205. Benefits are provided directly to the household's gas or electric utility or delivered fuel dealer for households that heat with fuel oil or propane.

The months of September and October are set aside for households with senior citizens or disabled members and those disconnected from their utilities. All other households may begin submitting applications after November 1, 2001.

Benefits include repairs of inoperable residential heating systems, payments to utilities or fuel dealers on behalf of eligible households to help reduce energy bills, and emergency assistance to help disconnected households regain energy services. In limited instances where heat is included in rent and rent is greater than 30 percent of a household's income, a small cash payment may be made directly to the household.

LIHEAP is operated throughout the state by a network of local agencies that work with utilities, determine eligibility and provide benefits to households. Anyone wishing to apply should contact the local agency in the county where they live. Additional assistance is available by calling the toll-free LIHEAP information line at 1-800-252-8643 (TDD: 800-785-6055).

Local Agencies providing LIHEAP assistance:

BCMW Community Services, Inc.
909 E. Rexford Street in Centralia
618/532-7388
Counties Served: Bond, Clinton, Marion and Washington

Carver Community Action Agency
235 E. Main Street in Galesburg
309/342-0158
County Served: Knox

CEFS Economic Opportunity Corporation
1805 S. Banker Street in Effingham
217/342-2193
Counties Served: Christian, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Moultrie and Shelby

Central Illinois Economic Development Corp.
1800 5th Street in Lincoln
217/732-2159
Counties Served: DeWitt, Logan, Mason, Menard and Piatt

Community and Economic Dev. Association of Cook County, Inc. (CEDA)
208 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 850 in Chicago
312/456-4100
Suburban Cook County (Outside City of Chicago)

CEDA-Chicago Project
208 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 850 in Chicago
312/795-8800
City of Chicago

Community Contacts, Inc.
1035 E. State Street in Geneva
630/232-9530 (Kane)
815/758-3835 (DeKalb)
Counties Served: DeKalb and Kane

Decatur-Macon County Opportunities Corp.
1122 E. Marietta Street in Decatur
217/428-2193
County Served: Macon

DuPage County Dept. of Human Resources
421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton
630/682-7000
County Served: DuPage

East Central Illinois Community Action Agency, Inc.
56 N. Vermilion Street in Danville
217/443-2705
Counties Served: Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion

Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc.
115 S. Kentucky Street in Greenup
217/923-3113
Counties Served: Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Jasper, Lawrence and Richland

Fulton County Health Dept.
700 East Oak Street in Canton
309/647-1134
County Served: Fulton

Illinois Valley Economic Development Corporation
223 S. Macoupin in Gillespie
217/839-4431
Counties Served: Calhoun, Greene, Jersey and Macoupin

Kankakee County Community Services, Inc.
341 N. St. Joseph Avenue in Kankakee
815/933-7883
County Served: Kankakee

Kendall-Grundy Community Action
500A Countryside Center in Yorkville
630/553-9100 (Kendall)
815/941-3262 (Grundy)
Counties Served: Grundy and Kendall

Lake County Community Action Project
102-106 S. Sheridan Road in Waukegan
847/249-4330
County Served: Lake

Madison County Community Development
130 Hillsboro Avenue, Suite 102 in Edwardsville
618/692-7040 ext. 6485
County Served: Madison

McHenry County Housing Authority
1108 N. Seminary in Woodstock
815/338-7752
County Served: McHenry

MCS Community Services
345 W. State Street in Jacksonville
217/243-9404
Counties Served: Cass, Morgan and Scott

Mid Central Community Action, Inc.
923 E. Grove Street in Bloomington
309/829-0691 (McLean)
815/844-3201 (Livingston)
Counties Served: Livingston and McLean

Northwestern Illinois Community Action Agency
103-109 N. Chicago Avenue in Freeport
815/232-3141
Counties Served: JoDaviess and Stephenson

Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity, Inc.
711 W. McBean Street in Peoria
309/671-3900
County Served: Peoria

Project NOW, Inc.
418 19th Street in Rock Island
309/793-6391
Counties Served: Henry, Mercer and Rock Island

Rockford Human Services Department
1005 S. Court Street in Rockford
815/987-5711
Counties Served: Boone and Winnebago

Sangamon County Department of Community Resources
200 S. 9th Street, Room 311 in Springfield
County Served: Sangamon

Shawnee Development Council, Inc.
School Street in Karnak
618/634-2201 or 634-2373
Counties Served: Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski and Union

St. Clair County Community Action Agency
19 Public Square, Suite 200 in Belleville
618/277-6790
27 N. Illinois Street in Belleville
618/257-9246
County Served: St. Clair

Tazwood Community Services, Inc
Field Shopping Center, 2005 S. Main Street in Morton
309/266-9941
Counties Served: Tazewell and Woodford

Tri-County Opportunities Council
405 Emmons Avenue in Rock Falls
800/323-5434
Counties Served: Bureau, Carroll, LaSalle, Lee, Marshall, Ogle, Putnam, Stark and Whiteside

Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials
1891 Maine Street, Suite 4 in Quincy
217/224-8171
Counties Served: Adams, Brown, Pike and Schuyler

Urban League of Champaign County
314 S. Neil Street in Champaign
217/363-3333
County Served: Champaign

Volunteer Services, Inc./Crosswalk Community Action Agency
410 W. Main Street in West Frankfort
618/937-3581
Counties Served: Franklin, Jefferson and Williamson

Wabash Area Development, Inc.
110 Latham Street in Enfield
618/963-2387
Counties Served: Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Saline, Wabash, Wayne and White

Western Egyptian Economic Opportunity Council
1 Industrial Park in Steeleville
618/965-9031
Counties Served: Jackson, Monroe, Perry and Randolph

Western Illinois Regional Council
223 S. Randolph Street in Macomb
309/837-2997
Counties Served: Hancock, Henderson, McDonough, and Warren

Will County Center for Community Concerns
304 N. Scott Street in Joliet
815/722-0722
County Served: Will

The Hearing impaired may access all numbers through the State TDD Relay: 800/526-0844.