Summer program cools off low-income homes

For Melissa White, heat is measured by dollars, not mercury.

She has been cautiously watching over her electricity bills for years. But this summer has hit the unemployed Elgin resident especially hard.

"My electricity bill almost tripled because the air was on," White said.

Thanks to the summer cooling branch of LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program), people like White may relieve their utility burdens a bit. Households with income of up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level could apply for a $150 one-time payment to their electric bills. Funded jointly by the federal government and state, the $10 million summer program run from July 19 through July 30 but could end early if the funds are exhausted.

To qualify for the program, a family should have at least one member with one of the four conditions: older than 60 years old or younger than 36 months, having medical conditions such as asthma and coronary disease that would be aggravated by extreme heat, or receiving Social Security disability benefits or with a pending case at the Social Security Administration, according to the state Department of Public Health.

"The Energy Assistance Act directs us to serve the most vulnerable population," state health department spokeswoman Marcelyn Love said. The main focus under the summer cooling program and given our finite resources is to serve those that are most vulnerable."

Love said that last year, 1,519 households out of 1,721 applications from Kane County received the cooling benefits, given a $21 million budget for the first-come, first-served program. In 2008, when the state was also operating on $10 million, 1,173 families out of 1,226 applicants benefited from the program,

In McHenry County, LIHEAP program coordinator Linda Elliott said, about 390 households received the $150 payment in 2008. She is expecting a higher enrollment number this year, but not more than 500.

LIHEAP also has a much bigger winter program, which focuses on heating expenses and usually takes application starting September. But families can apply for summer and winter programs jointly this month, according to the program's webpage. Local agencies will notify them of approval or denial within 30 days.

To apply for the summer cooling program, families from Kane and DeKalb counties can call (847) 697-4400 to schedule an appointment. The number for McHenry residents is (815)-338-7752.

Required documents for LIHEAP applicationbull; Proof of gross income from all household members for the 30-day period prior to application date;bull; A copy of your current heat and electric bills if you pay for your home energy directly or proof of your rental agreement, which states your monthly rent; bull; Proof of Social Security numbers of all household members;bull; Medical Eligibility Card if a household member receives Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.Source: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity