|
"Consumers are being warned to
brace for increases in home heating bills by as much as 77 percent,"
Blagojevich said. "That's going to impact every family in Illinois
-- but it could be catastrophic for senior citizens and families
already struggling to get by. That's why we're reaching out in an
unprecedented way to coordinate with community organizations and
elected leaders to make sure people who are going to be hit the
hardest by rising energy costs this winter get help as early as
possible."
The Blagojevich administration is helping to coordinate 16 Winter
Assistance Days in several communities, including Chicago, Harvey,
Ford Heights, Robbins, Rockford and Springfield. The administration
is coordinating with U.S. Reps. Danny Davis, D-7; Luis V. Gutierrez,
D-4; Jesse Jackson Jr., D-2; Bobby L. Rush, D-1; John Shimkus, R-19;
the Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; Pastor Elder
Ahart Medders; state Sen. Rev. James T. Meeks, I-15; state Sen.
Antonio Munoz, D-1; state Rep. Cynthia Soto, D-4; Cook County
Commissioner Roberto Maldonado, D-8; Cook County Commissioner
Deborah Sims, D-5; 21st Ward Alderman Howard
Brookins; 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas; 1st Ward Alderman
Manuel Flores, 26th Ward Alderman Billy Ocasio; 30th Ward Alderman
Ariel Reboyras; the Community Economic
Development Association of Cook County; ComEd; People's Energy;
NICOR; and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family
Services.
"We must do everything we can to help our neediest, most
vulnerable families get through the cold winter months," said Davis,
one of the congressmen. "I am very proud to stand side by side with
Governor Blagojevich and my fellow members of the Illinois
congressional delegation in this important effort that will bring
critical resources directly to the communities that need them most."
"I strongly urge residents to take advantage of these events
because this winter is going to be especially difficult with the
rising costs of gas prices," said Rush, another Illinois
congressman, who was able to secure a 50 percent increase in LIHEAP
funds through the passage of his amendment as part of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005. "I will continue to fight to protect critical
federal energy assistance dollars to ensure our communities have
access to the resources and services they need."
At the events, residents will be allowed to apply for LIHEAP
grant applications, and the Department of Healthcare and Family
Services will distribute free weatherization kits to help decrease
the cost of heating residents' homes. The kits include 20 30-watt
fluorescent light bulbs, foam door seals, window installation kits,
packages of eight switch and outlet gaskets, and replacement
low-flow showerheads. Staff and volunteers from local utility
companies, legal aid, local consumer advocate groups, and Department
of Healthcare and Family Services staff will be on hand to offer
assistance and guidance.
"This series of energy assistance days will unite communities
across the state in a common and worthy cause of helping our
neighbors keep their children warm and healthy," said Shimkus,
congressman from Peoria, who will attend the Springfield event.
In addition to providing energy and weatherization assistance,
many of the events will be set up as "one-stop shops" with
information and applications on several state programs that
attendees could benefit from, including FamilyCare, KidCare, ISaveRx;
the new Illinois Cares Rx prescription drug benefit for seniors and
people with disabilities, and child support enforcement. In some
instances, legal aid representatives will also be made available.
"With temperatures beginning to drop and energy prices continuing
to rise, these comprehensive Winter Assistance Events will help
ensure that Illinois families and seniors can stay safe, secure and
warm this winter," said Gutierrez, another Illinois congressmen. "I
applaud the governor for coordinating these activities across the
state and for helping to protect the neediest among us."
"CEDA has trained intake workers at 140 community centers,
faith-based organizations, learning centers and at the CEDA central
office," said Robert Wharton, president and chief executive officer
of the Community Economic Development Association of Cook County.
"We encourage all qualified families and individuals to apply
early."
Through LIHEAP, a state- and federally funded energy assistance
program run by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services,
heating bill payments are made on behalf of households with incomes
of up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level. On Sept. 1,
Blagojevich made LIHEAP funding available to vulnerable households
and those currently without home heating due to service
disconnections to meet their winter heating needs.
A single-person household can qualify for LIHEAP with a monthly
income of up to $1,196, a two-person household up to $1,604, and a
family of four can earn up to $2,420. Benefits are paid directly to
the household's appropriate utility. The energy grant applications
are processed through a network of 35 local administering agencies
around the state. These agencies have been accepting applications on
a first-come, first-served basis from vulnerable households since
Sept. 1 and will accept applications from all income-eligible
households on Nov. 1. The winter heating program is expected to
reach 300,000 households this winter with an estimated $150 million
in state and federal funding.
[to top of second column in this article] |
 LIHEAP serves as many households as possible, while giving
priority to households with the greatest energy burden and
households whose health and safety is threatened. For a complete
listing of LIHEAP's local administrating agencies and additional
information about the grant program, go to
www.liheapillinois.com,
or call the toll-free LIHEAP information line at 1 (800) 252-8643.
"The governor is doing everything he can to make sure families
stay out of the cold this winter, and now is the time for utilities
to step up to the plate and put an end to these needless
reconnection fees," said Barry Maram, director of the Illinois
Department of Healthcare and Family Services. "In the wake of
Hurricane Katrina, high energy prices are going to affect each and
every one of us this winter, and we must be prepared as a state to
do all we can to help the most vulnerable and struggling
households."
In September, Blagojevich called on
the Illinois utility companies to help maximize the effectiveness of
LIHEAP by waiving administrative reconnection fees and security
deposits for LIHEAP customers. In the past, LIHEAP funds have been
used first to cover utilities' administrative reconnection fees and
security deposits, which can cost more than $400. The governor asked
utilities to waive such fees so that grant funds go directly to
cover actual usage charges, allowing the state to help more
households cover heating costs.
Last month, the governor appointed a special director of
emergency energy assistance to marshal resources from the public and
private sectors and to coordinate assistance to vulnerable
populations impacted by record-high heating costs. In addition to
meeting the needs of vulnerable populations, the special director
will set up a complaint system that will assist the state in
monitoring utility prices and shut-offs. The special director will
work with utilities, the Illinois Commerce Commission and other
state agencies to ensure the public's best interest is protected.
Schedule of energy assistance events
(Day, date, time; host; agency)
Saturday, Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; hosted by the office of U.S.
Rep. John Shimkus; St. John's Hospital, main lobby, 800 E.
Carpenter, Springfield
Monday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; state Sen. Antonio Munoz,
Alderman George Cardenas; Our Lady of Fatima Church, 3845 S.
California, Chicago
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Pastor Elder Ahart Medders;
Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S. Dorchester, Chicago
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 5-8 p.m.; U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.; St.
Francis De Sales, 10100 S. Ewing, Chicago
Saturday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Alderman Howard Brookins;
Resurrection Lutheran Church, 9349 S. Wentworth, Chicago
Friday, Oct. 28; time and host to be determined; State of
Illinois Building, Rockford
Saturday, Oct. 29, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; U.S. Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez,
state Sen. Cynthia Soto, 1st Ward Alderman Manuel Flores, 26th Ward
Alderman Billy Ocasio, 30th Ward Alderman Ariel Reboyras; Wells High
School, 936 North Ashland, Chicago
Wednesday, Nov. 2, time to be determined; Bloom Township and Rich
townships; place to be determined
Friday, Nov. 4, time to be determined; Rainbow/Push Coalition;
National Headquarters, 930 E. 50th Street, Chicago
Saturday, Nov. 5, time to be determined, Rainbow/Push Coalition;
National Headquarters, 930 E. 50th Street, Chicago
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.;
Southeast CEDA, 3518 W. 139th St., Robbins
Saturday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Mayor Eric Kellogg; Harvey
Community Center, 15320 Center St., Harvey
Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Cook County Commissioner
Deborah Sims; Ford Heights Community Service Association, 443 E.
Lincoln Highway, Ford Heights
Saturday, Dec. 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; U.S. Rep. Danny Davis; District
Office, 3333 Arthington, Chicago
Date and time to be determined; state Sen. Rev. James T. Meeks;
Salem Baptist Church, 752 E. 114th St., Chicago (for members of the
church only)
[News release from the governor's
office]
 |
