Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced Tuesday that the federal government has released nearly $40 million in heating assistance for Mainers.
About $38 million of this funding will go towards the State of Maine, while the remaining $1.5 million will be sent directly to the Indian Township and Pleasant Point Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet, and Mi’kmaq Tribes in Maine.
Last month, Sen. Collins joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in urging the Trump Administration to release heating assistance funds as quickly as possible after the record-long government shutdown initially delayed their distribution.
[RELATED: Susan Collins Urges Administration to Release LIHEAP Grants Now That the Government Shutdown is Over]
Collins noted in her Tuesday announcement that the National Energy Assistance Directors Association has projected that home heating costs will be eight percent higher compared to last winter’s average.
Nationwide, roughly 6.2 million households rely on heating and cooling assistance, with Mainers alone receiving $41.6 million worth of aid in the past fiscal year.
Eligibility for assistance through LIHEAP is based on household size, income, and the availability of resources.
Generally speaking, most applicants need to have a household income below 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline or 60 percent of the state median income. Mainers applying for LIHEAP may do so here.
“LIHEAP funding provides vital relief to thousands of Mainers, helping them avoid the constant worry of having to choose between heating their homes and covering other basic necessities,” said Collins in her statement Tuesday.
“I am glad that following our outreach, HHS has released funds for this critical program,” she said. “As Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue to support this program and work to ensure that households in Maine and throughout the country can afford to heat their homes this winter.”
