Click here for Mobile Site: http://m.kdka.com
  • Font Size    

Most Popular Videos Featured On KDKA.com

KDKA 14-Day Temperature Trend
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Proposed LIHEAP Cuts Could Leave Some Out In Cold

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +    Comments
Aug 27, 2009 7:30 pm US/Eastern

Proposed LIHEAP Cuts Could Leave Some Out In Cold

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Some people are worried that proposed cuts to the state's home heating assistance program could leave more Pennsylvanians out in the cold this winter.

Last year, the federal government gave Pennsylvania $308 million for LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program; but this year, the state may get less than half of that money – just $143 million.

If the proposed changes become a reality, fewer people may be eligible for the program – which some say could be disastrous for low-income families across the state.

Scott Waitlevertch of Equitable Gas says he is "very concerned on behalf of our customers."

"It's an issue we think could have a very devastating impact," Waitlevertch added, "especially if we have a cold winter this year."

"We're very concerned that a lot of our customers will go without heat this year," echoed Bethany Burtyk of Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania. "Typically we're able to help customers early on in the heating season."

Edward Zogby with the Department of Public Welfare says the decrease in funding would create a number of challenges. "One of the challenges were looking at is how long can we run the program."

Under the proposal, the period where people will eligible for help will be shortened this year. New eligibility requirements would also mean that not all families who qualified for the program last year will make the cut this year.

Last year, a family of four with a maximum household income of $44,443 qualified for help; but this year, the income cutoff will be $33,075.

While there's an effort to come up with more federal funding, so far, that hasn't happened.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Featured Slideshows On KDKA.com

Add Comment

here. here. Need a log in? Register here
  •  * Will not be displayed with comment
  •  * e.g. (http://www.mywebsite.com)
  •  
  • Click here to refresh with new letters

Show Comments (0)

Close Window Login


Close Window Flag Comment


loading...
You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Consumer

Top News Stories

© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.