The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program has been extended through April 30. The Kentucky River Foothills Development Council is encouraging anyone who is potentially eligible or in a vulnerable household to contact them about getting help.
Karen Atkins is spokeswoman for Kentucky River Foothills. She explains the LIHEAP extension occurs when Kentucky experiences a mild winter. “What happens is, we haven’t spent our funded allotment and neither have the other agencies across the state. So, right now we don’t see many people in that crisis situation because it really hasn’t gotten that cold,” said Atkins.
Even those who have already received assistance from LIHEAP this year may still be eligible.
“There’s a lot of variables that go into how much you will receive, but the maximum is $400. So there might be people out there that have gotten crisis this year and their benefit was less than $400, so they might be eligible for some more,” said Atkins.
Atkins said the energy assistance can help free up money for other essentials like food and medicine.
In-person appointments are only for emergency situations. All assistance applying for the funds will be done over the phone, email or other messenger.
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