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With winter fast approaching, the application process for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) emergency services will be opening Oct. 15 with the program beginning Nov. 2, Rachelle Abbott, president and CEO of the Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP), Inc., announced at the Lycoming County Commissioners this week.
STEP is the weatherization provider as well as the LIHEAP emergency services provider. LIHEAP emergency services in the past was called LIHEAP Crisis, Abbott explained.
Through this program, individuals can call the county assistance office and if their heating system is not working then STEP would be called to determine what needs to be done.
"We know that this year is going to be a tough heating year, with the prices of oil, so we're gearing up to be able to help support those programs," she said.
STEP will continue with their PPL and UGI assistance program for utilities, which helps individuals who have back bills or are struggling.
"Oftentimes it's older adults who have limited income when those prices are rising, and so we're able to help support them to do balanced budgeting, and in some cases the companies even forgive their back payments if they haven't been able to do it, as long as they're continuing to move forward," she said.
Abbott said that STEP has been getting a lot of calls from individuals who were impacted by the recent flooding event, and have been helping them through their Supportive Housing Program. "This does qualify as a crisis. They're not able to go back into their homes, and so we can help
them get stabilized until their home is rehabbed, refinished, whatever is needed because of that flood damage," she said.
Abbott noted that there are few resources within the community right now for those affected by flooding other than their homeowner's insurance-if they had flood insurance.