LIHEAP to host outreach for energy bill assistance in Erwin

Low income residents in Unicoi County will have an opportunity later this month to apply for help with winter energy bills when outreach for a federal assistance program stops by Erwin. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, is a federally funded program that helps eligible households pay home energy costs by making direct payments to utility providers on behalf of approved applicants, according to a press release from the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency. UETHDA says its LIHEAP Outreach RV will be at Erwin Utilities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 28, located at 244 Love St. in Erwin, to assist residents with the application process. The agency says the outreach vehicle follows local school systems' inclement weather schedules, and that the event is weather dependent. UETHDA reports that LIHEAP assistance amounts range from $174 to $750, depending on a household's energy burden. The program is designed to assist low income households that spend a high proportion of their income on energy costs, according to the agency. Applications are now being accepted online through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency at thda.org/liheap. UETHDA says all applicants must have an email address to apply and must submit required documentation, which is listed on the agency's website. Applicants are urged by UETHDA to continue paying their utility bills while applications are being processed to avoid late fees or penalties. UETHDA says income eligibility is limited to households at or below 60 percent of the state median income. For a single person household, the agency says this equals monthly income of less than $2,671. Additional information about LIHEAP is available through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency at thda.org/liheap or helpingneighbors.com.