PINEVILLE - Bell-Whitley CAA will begin the “Crisis” portion of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that assists households in a heating crisis on January 8, 2007. The deepening of cold winter weather combined with rising utility costs leaves many households unable to fully meet heating bills or purchase sufficient bulk fuel to keep their families safe and warm. Your local Community Action Partnership (CAP) stands ready to help.

Last year more than 2,305 residents of Bell County received financial assistance and emergency services from the LIHEAP Crisis component.

To be eligible, the household must meet the definition of being in a crisis situation and be at or below 130 percent of federal poverty guidelines as shown below.

Household Size Monthly Income

1 $1,062

2 1,430

3 1,799

4 2,167

5 2,535

6 2,904

7 3,272

8 3,640

For each additional household member above eight add $369 to the monthly income limit.

A household shall be considered to be in a home heating crisis situation when the household meets the basic LIHEAP eligibility criteria and:

* the household is within four days of running out of fuel if bulk fuel (coal, fuel oil, propane, kerosene, or wood) is the heat source;

* the household has received a past due/disconnect notice if natural gas or electric is the heat source; or

* the household's home heating costs are included as an undesignated portion of the rent, and the household has received an eviction notice for non-payment of rent from the landlord.

For all bulk fuels (wood, coal, propane, fuel oil, kerosene) verification of a crisis situation may be self-declaration by the applicant. For natural gas and electric heated households, the applicant must present an appropriate disconnect notice from the vendor.

Applications will be taken at convenient CAP locations. Applicants are encouraged to apply at the location nearest to them in their county of residence. Days, hours of operation, locations and telephone numbers are: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., 606-337-3044 at 129 Pine Street, Pineville.

LIHEAP is a statewide initiative sponsored by the Kentucky Association of Community Action Inc. in partnership with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS).