January 23, 2008
Michigan to receive additional $27 million
LANSING - Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that Michigan will receive an additional $27.4 million in federal funding to be used for direct emergency service to clients through the Michigan Department of Human Services' Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help protect Michigan citizens from the cold this winter. With the additional funds, Michigan's Department of Human Services and Public Service Commission have a combined $173 million to assist residents with their heating and energy needs this year.
"No state has been more challenged by globalization than Michigan, and that has directly affected the pocketbooks of Michigan families," Granholm said. "With escalating energy costs and extremely cold weather, these funds will help Michigan families stay warm."
The funds will assist an additional 73,000 Michigan households cope with the high costs of fuel this winter.
In December, Governor Granholm and nine other Midwestern governors asked Congress for an increase in current year funding. In late December, Congress authorized a new budget that included additional emergency funding. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released $450 million in emergency funds for states to assist households with high energy costs.
Michigan received $113.7 million in LIHEAP funds during fiscal year 2007 and provided heating assistance to nearly 466,000 households. During the first quarter of the 2008 fiscal year (October-December), Michigan received 24,000 more LIHEAP crisis applications than in the same period last year.
"The rising cost of home heating continues to put serious financial burdens on our residents," Department of Human Services Director Ismael Ahmed said. "This action will help keep Michigan citizens warm and help low-income families deal with ever-increasing energy costs."
According to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, the average household will spend 15.2 percent more to heat their homes this winter.
To apply for crisis energy assistance, citizens should contact the Michigan Department of Human Services office in the county in which they reside. For more information, go to: www.michigan.gov/dhsor www.michigan.gov/heatingassistance
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