LIHEAP HELPS LOW-INCOME ILLINOISANS MEET ENERGY NEEDS By JAN M. GRAYSON, Director Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs

As we enter the winter heating season, many Illinois families are already struggling to meet the costs of food, shelter and energy costs. Again this year, as we have since 1977, the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) will operate a program to provide assistance to low-income Illinoisans to help them meet the costs of winter heating bills.

This year's program, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), began operating on October 1. The program, which replaces the Residential Energy Assistance Partnership Program (REAPP), grew out of recent amendments to the Energy Assistance Act of 1989.

LIHEAP provides assistance to eligible Illinoisans in several ways. For those people whose energy costs are included as an undesignated portion of their rent, as well as tenants of public housing authorities with a "subject to surcharge" clause in their leases, a direct cash payment will be made directly to the eligible household. To qualify, applicants must document that rental expenses for housing are greater than 30 percent of their income.

LIHEAP also will provide payments directly to the home energy provider on behalf of the eligible household, provide emergency services payments to eligible households facing an energy-related life-or health-threatening situation.

For several years, DCCA also has opted to use a portion of its energy assistance funds to operate a residential weatherization or energy-related home repair component. These funds supplement the Illinois Home Weatherization Program, which is funded through the federal Department of Energy (DOE). The home weatherization component is designed to decrease the amount of energy consumed by low-income households, and, as a result, reduce the financial strain on their incomes.

To be eligible for LIHEAP benefits, Illinoisans must document that their household income is at or below 110 percent of the federal poverty level. The actual amount of payment is determined by household size, income, fuel type and geographic location.

The program is delivered to Illinois residents through a network of community action agencies, community-based organizations and local governments. These agencies, which represent each of the 102 Illinois counties, are responsible for providing out-reach, referral, energy-related counseling and educational materials, taking applications, verifying eligibility information and issuing assistance payments to energy vendors. They also are required to notify applicants of the eligibility status within 30 days after the application for assistance is made. Funds, which are provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are allocated through DCCA to these local administrating agencies under a formula which takes into account the number of persons in poverty, senior citizens and disabled people in poverty, heating degree days and fuel costs.

During the 1992 heating season, $65 million will be available to serve an estimated 222,000 Illinois households. Local officials who wish more information on LIHEAP may call DCCA's energy assistance hotline, toll-free, at 1-800-252-8643.

November 1991 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 15