News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:	Friday, October 8, 1999
Contact:	Angelita Plemmer, City Manager's Office, (703) 838-4300; Ann Moore (703) 838-0930,Community Services Coordinator

City Provides Assistance with Home Heating Costs Alexandrians Eligible for Portion of $20 Million State Fund

The City of Alexandria's Department of Human Services will be accepting applications from residents who may need help with their home heating costs, starting October 12, 1999 through November 12, 1999. Individuals faced with a heating emergency can apply for crisis assistance from November 1, 1999 to March 15, 2000. To qualify for crisis assistance, a household must have at least one person who is 60 years of age or older, disabled, or under six years old. Financial aid for the heating assistance program and the crisis assistance program is provided based on household size, income, resources, fuel type used, and geographic area of the state. Income and resources of all household members must be verified. Funding is provided through the Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Block Grant.

A total of $20 million is available for residents throughout the state. Benefit amounts for households will be determined in late December. Notices will be sent to each eligible household indicating approval and the benefit amount. Notices will be sent to ineligible households immediately.

In most cases, payments will be made to vendors providing the primary source of fuel to heat the home. However, homes using wood, coal, or having limited fuel storage capacity will receive direct payments. Fuel deliveries may be made until March 31, 2000, unless the household uses all of the benefit allowance prior to that date.

Heating emergency assistance may include: repair or replacement of defective heating equipment, purchase of primary fuel, or payment for emergency shelter under certain conditions.

Last winter, 84,068 Virginia households received help with heating bills. The average payment per household was $232, with a maximum of $346. More than one-third of those households included at least one member age 60 or over, one-third included at least one disabled member and nearly one-fourth had least one child under the age of 6.

For more information regarding these programs, call the City of Alexandria Department of Human Services Office of Community Services at (703) 838-0912. Or, residents can call the Virginia Department of Social Services, toll-free 1-800-552-3431 during normal business hours. Hearing impaired individuals with access to a telecommunications device should call toll free to 1-800-552-7096.