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The Harlan County Community Action Agency (HCCAA) is once again offering assistance through the Low Income Hime Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), designed to help low-income households with heating costs.

Mistie Sanders of HCCAA explained some of the details of the program during a recent interview.

“LIHEAP is a program that helps low-income families with their utility and heating bills to try and help them save money,” Sanders said.

According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services website at https://www.chfs.ky.gov, LIHEAP is a federally funded program.

“The Kentucky LIHEAP program helps approximately 150,000 Kentucky families pay their heating bills each winter. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services allocates funding to Kentucky through the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which contracts with Community Action Agencies across the state to receive LIHEAP applications and provide recipient benefits,” states the website.

Sanders noted this year’s LIHEAP subsidy will not begin until Nov. 6.

“To apply, you’ll have to come to the HCCAA office,” Sanders said. “You will need your electric bill, social security cards for everybody in the home and proof of all income for everybody in your home.”

Sanders mentioned the HCCAA has been helping Harlan Countians via LIHEAP for many years.

“Last year, we helped about 10,000 people,” Sanders said. “That’s just for Harlan County…every county has a Community Action Agency.”

A news release states households will be considered eligible for a LIHEAP subsidy provided the household meets the eligibility criteria. Those criteria include completing an application, providing a metered utility bill, being responsible for home energy costs directly or as an undesignated portion of rent, and having a combined household income for the calendar month on the application not exceeding 130 percent of the federal poverty level as listed in the income eligibility guidelines.

The program helps cover costs from different sources of heat, including electricity, coal, propane, and fuel oil.

For more information on LIHEAP and other programs, call the HCCAA at (606 ) 573-5335 or go to the HCCAA Facebook page or website at harlancountycaa.com.