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The governor also encouraged
families to apply for energy assistance to help keep their homes
warm and safe in the coming winter months. For information on energy
assistance or weatherization tips, families can visit the Keep Warm
Illinois website, at
www.keepwarm.illinois.gov, or call the toll-free Keep Warm
Illinois line, 1-877-411-WARM (9276).
"Last winter hundreds of people used the warming centers to
shield themselves from the bitter cold temperatures, snow and ice,"
Blagojevich said. "This year we want to make sure once again these
centers are open so that no one risks their health and safety while
trying to beat the cold. In addition, we are encouraging families to
apply for energy assistance now, so that they get help keeping up
with higher heating bills as quickly as possible."
The Department of Human Services warming centers will be at
locations that are open during normal business hours Monday-Friday.
Area homeless shelters that are likely to face overflow crowds, as
well as local police and fire departments, have also been notified
about this option. After 5 p.m., people using the warming centers
will be referred to overnight shelters.
"The warming centers are an excellent place for Illinois families
to stay safe and warm this winter," said Department of Human
Services Secretary Carol L. Adams, Ph.D. "People who want to lower
their thermostats during the day in order to save costs on their
utilities are encouraged to take advantage of the warming centers."
In addition to providing the warming centers, the Department of
Human Services is sending out Keep Warm Illinois information flyers
and brochures to more than 1 million customers of the department.
Information was included in December mailings to TANF, medical card
and food stamps recipients. More than 70,000 bookmarks with Keep
Warm Illinois information were distributed to eight regional food
banks
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 "As the weather gets colder, we are redoubling our efforts to
reach out to families in every community to help them get the home
energy assistance they need to stay healthy and safe," said Barry
Maram, director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family
Services. "We encourage all families who are eligible for LIHEAP to
apply now, to get the assistance they need as quickly as possible."
LIHEAP is a state- and federally funded energy assistance program
that assists households with incomes of up to 150 percent of the
federal poverty level. A single-person household can qualify with a
monthly income of up to $1,225, a two-person household up to $1,650,
and a family of four can earn up to $2,500. LIHEAP energy grant
applications are processed through a network of 35 local
administering agencies around the state. The winter heating program
is expected to serve 300,000 households this winter with an
estimated $150 million in state and federal funding. 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 Keep Warm Illinois line, 1-877-411-WARM
(9276).
Blagojevich launched the Keep Warm Illinois campaign and website
in October to help all Illinoisans stay warm, healthy and safe this
winter. The Keep Warm Illinois campaign brings state agencies
together to coordinate efforts in preparing communities across the
state for high home heating costs this winter. The Keep Warm
Illinois website, at
www.keepwarm.illinois.gov, offers various no-cost and low-cost
energy-saving tips, a Web-based tool to conduct a home energy audit,
links to energy assistance programs, and other resources. In
addition, the Keep Warm Illinois line, 1-877-411-WARM (9276), is
another resource for Illinois residents to learn how to save energy
and get energy assistance.
In Logan County, the state-designated warming center is at 1550
Fourth St. For warming centers elsewhere in the state,
click here. A list is also
available on the Keep
Warm Illinois website:
http://www.keepwarm.illinois.gov/
warmingcenter.cfm.
[News release from the governor's
office]
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