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January 16, 2008Community Action Agencies Welcome Low-Income Heating Assistance |
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From PR Newswire: Government and Policy: The nation's Community Action Agencies welcomed today's news from Washington that more funds are on the way to help low- and moderate-income Americans pay their rising energy bills. President Bush released $450 million from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) contingency fund, which Community Action Agencies across the country will deliver to energy consumers in their communities. David Bradley, executive director of the National Community Action Foundation, which represents the nation's 1,100 Community Action Agencies in Washington, called the increment a "good down-payment on the ballooning debt Americans owe energy suppliers." "Community Action Agencies all across the nation are struggling to help millions of energy consumers whose wages or pensions are not adequate to keep their homes warm and safe," Bradley said. "We are grateful to the bipartisan group of Senate and House leaders that has carried our case to the President. According to Bradley, 37 million low- and moderate-income households need more than $62 billion to keep their heat and lights on this year. That is money not used to buy food, medicine and other necessities. Community Action Agencies report that this year they are getting applications from families that have never before asked for help." National Community Action Foundation is supporting passage of Independent Vermont Sen. Bernard Sanders' Keeping Americans Warm Act, Senate Bill 2405, to provide $800 million or more in emergency energy appropriations. Visit http://www.ncaf.org/press for a state-by-state LIHEAP funding chart and for forecasts for low-income consumers' 2008 energy bills.
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