Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Begins Sept. 1, 2010

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity has announced that Crosswalk Community Action Agency, headquartered in West Frankfort, will be administering the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Franklin, Jefferson and Williamson Counties. The program, which provides financial assistance to eligible households to help pay a portion of their Winter Heating Bills, will begin on Wed., Sept. 1. Eligibility is based upon gross income for the thirty days prior to the date of application and is $1,354 for one person household, $1,821 for two person households, $2,289 for three person households and $2,756 for four person households. The first two (2) months of the program (September & October) are set aside as a priority period for the income eligible elderly (age 60 and over) and disabled (must be drawing disability income). The first step, in receiving energy assistance is to visit the outreach site in your county and make an appointment, so an application can be made at a later date. Appointments will start being distributed on Wed., Sept. 1. If it is not possible to be at the outreach site on Sept. 1, there will still be appointments available and those eligible can still go to the location, in their county, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., and receive an appointment. It is recommended that only one person per household should come to make an appointment. This will make the line shorter and should provide faster service. On Mon., Nov. 1, all other households meeting the income guidelines will be eligible to participate on a first come, first serve basis.

Also, any eligible household that is disconnected from their utility or who is at or below 25% on a delivered fuel and can not get a delivery on their own may qualify for Re-Connection assistance. Emergency Re-Connection Applications will start Fri., Oct. 1. If there are any questions, please call Crosswalk's main office at 618-937-3581 and speak to someone in the LIHEAP Department. Please do not call the IL. Dept. Of Employment Security Offices. You may also call one of the numbers listed below to get recorded program information.

Outreach Locations: Franklin County, Crosswalk, E. Entrance (Food Pantry Office), 410 W. Main, W. Frankfort, 618-937-3581. Jefferson County, IL Dept. of Employment Security, 333 Potomac Blvd., Suite E, Mt. Vernon, 618-244-4858. Williamson County, IL Dept. of Employment Security, 8195 Express Drive, Marion, 618-998-9023.