KITCHEN SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO KEEP PENNSYLVANIANS WARM

          HARRISBURG, January 24 – State Sen. Shirley M. Kitchen is praising Gov. Ed Rendell’s decision to expand the state’s guidelines for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and provide 67,000 additional families with heating aid this winter.

          “Most Pennsylvania families are opening their gas bills from December, and their jaws are hitting the floor,” said Kitchen (D-Philadelphia). “Many would never have dreamed of applying for assistance, but with increases of 50 percent as the norm, they are struggling just to get by.

          “In the past, Pennsylvania has had a relatively strict cutoff for heating aid. This fact, coupled with skyrocketing energy prices, was a good motivation for Governor Rendell to reexamine the guidelines and adjust them for 2006 realities.”

          At a Capitol news conference on Monday, Rendell announced that the state Department of Public Welfare will increase LIHEAP’s income cutoff from 135 percent of the federal poverty level to 150 percent. Under the new eligibility guidelines, a family of four can make up to $29,025 (nearly $3,000 above the previous income eligibility level).

          The federal LIHEAP statute allows states to set their own eligibility limits. According to the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, seventeen states have set their cutoff below 150 percent of the poverty guideline, 20 states use the 150 percent standard, and seven states have limits beyond 150 percent of the poverty guideline. In addition, seven states use an alternative standard allowed under the LIHEAP statute (60 percent of a state’s median income).

          This expansion of LIHEAP’s enrollment was made possible when the General Assembly last month passed House Bill 1539, which authorized the governor to divert up to one mill of the utilities’ gross receipts tax (approximately $20 million) from the General Fund for this fiscal year. Also, Pennsylvania’s LIHEAP appropriation from the federal government was $13 million higher than expected.

          As of December 30, 2005, applications to LIHEAP numbered more than 322,000. While other states like Indiana and New York have nearly run out of LIHEAP funds, Pennsylvania has only spent approximately half of its total funds for this winter.

          To help Philadelphia residents who are interested in cutting their heating bills, Kitchen and the Energy Coordinating Agency will host an energy conservation workshop on Saturday, Jan. 28 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Yorktown Arms (1300 West Jefferson Street, Philadelphia).

          At the workshop, participants will learn how to seal their homes against cold air currents and install automatic clock thermostats. Attendees will gain hands-on experience with using foam insulation, rope caulk, plastic storm windows, weather stripping, and V-seal.

          Weatherization materials will be provided free of charge.

          “The LIHEAP cash and crisis grant program is a wonderful resource for families who need immediate assistance,” said Kitchen. “However, we should also be helping homeowners to insulate their homes. Conservation and weatherization are important parts of the equation.”