HHS Provides Over $131 Million In Energy ...( WASHINGTON Sept. 26 -- HHS Secre...),Health

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced the release of $131 million in energy assistance to help eligible low income homeowners and renters meet home energy costs. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds are expected to provide states with heating assistance for the fall and winter months ahead.

"No one should suffer from the cold," Secretary Leavitt said. "These funds will put states in a better position to help those in need keep their homes warm when cold weather strikes."

Of the $131 million, $106 million will go to help individuals heat or cool their homes in all 50 states. As the following states were identified as having large numbers of eligible households that use oil to heat their homes, Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont will share an additional $25 million under LIHEAP.

"The release of these funds will give some of our most vulnerable citizens one less thing to worry about," said Daniel Schneider, acting assistant secretary for the Administration for Children and Families. "The Bush Administration is making sure that when temperatures drop, the heat stays on."

The funds released today bring the total delivered under LIHEAP to approximately $2.16 billion this year.

For a complete list of state allocations of the funds released today go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2007/liheap_fund_092007.html.

Individuals interested in applying for energy assistance should contact their local/state LIHEAP agency. For more information, go to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/ or http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap/brochure.html.

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