AUGUSTA, Ga. – Help is on the way for those who need assistance with heating their homes.

Applications opened Friday in Georgia for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps homeowners and renters with the costs associated with heating their homes through direct payments.

Georgia residents 65 and older or those who are medically homebound will be able to apply via their local Community Action Agency. Applications for all other eligible residents will be taken beginning in January.

In the CSRA, the community action agencies are:

• Central Savannah River Area Economic Opportunity Authority Inc., 1261 Greene St. in Augusta, 706-722-0493, serving Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Taliaferro, Warren and Wilkes counties.
• Overview, Inc., 120 S. Jefferson St. in Milledgeville, 478-453-4111, serving Hancock, Jasper, Johnson, Putnam, Washington and Wilkinson counties.

The Georgia Department of Human Services says in order to qualify, a family’s income must be less than or equal to 60 percent of the median income for a Georgia family.

For a household of one, the income threshold is $29,713, and for a household of five, it’s $66,284.

One Georgian who’ll be applying is Carla Ollivierre.

“It gives you a break on those monthly bills,” Ollivierre said. “Because sometimes they will give you a good amount that will last you three or four months and that’s a big help on a fixed income.”

Ollivierre says the financial help is much needed in this economy.

All applicants should be prepared to provide the following information:

• Most recent heating bill or statement of service from their heating provider
• Social Security numbers for each household member
• Proof of citizenship for each household member
• Proof of income (e.g., a paycheck stub or a public assistance verification letter) for the last 30 days for each adult household member
• Verification of Social Security or unemployment benefits for household member(s), if applicable

Funds are administered on a first-come, first-served basis until they run out.

For more information on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, click here.

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