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December 23, 2022 - The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) representing the state directors of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) applauds Congress for including a record $6 billion for the program in the omnibus spending bill.
According to Barbara Klug, NEADA’s Chair, “the additional funds will help states address rapid rise in home energy prices this winter. Many states are reporting rising applications for energy assistance and these funds will allow us to move quickly to help these families.” Ms. Klug added, “we appreciate the work of Senators Reed and Collins in leading a bi-partisan effort to provide these funds to help some of the nation’s most vulnerable households afford the cost of home energy this winter and cooling costs this summer.”
LIHEAP helps more than six million low-income families afford the cost of heating and cooling each year, but funding is only sufficient to help one out of six eligible households. The additional funds will help to address rising home energy prices across all major fuel sources.
On average, the cost of home heating this winter will be about 18 percent more than last year and 34 percent more than two years ago — and for those using heating oil, prices are expected to increase by about 44 percent from last year and a whopping 144 percent from two years ago.
Mark Wolfe, Executive Director of NEADA stated, “home heating prices are now the highest they’ve been in more than 10 years. The additional funds provided by the Omnibus spending bill, under the bi-partisan leadership of Senators Reed and Collins, will help millions of families pay their home energy bills and stay connected to vital utility services.”
The National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) is the primary educational and policy organization for state directors of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), federal programs that help low-income families pay their heating and cooling bills, and water and wastewater bills, respectively.
Source: NEADA
