Eligible low-income households will receive more help with their utility bills this winter. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., announced the state will receive $2,037,124 in federal funding for its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.
“The release of these funds will allow the state of Oregon to meet the needs of its citizens without dipping into coffers that are already running out,” Smith said in a statement.
The funds are part of a $200 million nationwide allocation by the Health and Human Services Department to help low-income households meet their heating and cooling needs. The money was part of the 2002 fiscal year LIHEAP contingency fund and was distributed by order of President George W. Bush.
“These funds will help keep our fellow citizens warm in a time of great need and bitter cold,” Bush said in a statement last Friday. “This program is an important source of support for millions of low-income families across the nation.”
States were granted funding based on the severity of weather and the number of needy households. Oregon households with a total income of less than 60 percent of the average household income are eligible for assistance through LIHEAP.
According to Director of Housing Mike Eyster, University students in student housing may be eligible for LIHEAP, however they must apply to the program individually and separate from the University. Because University housing is not government subsidized, the University is not eligible to apply for federal funding.
“What we’ve done in the past with energy programs is we’ve advertised them to students and offered to help them apply,” Eyster said. “We promote and encourage students to apply to these programs.”

— Aimee Rudin