Helping those in need stay warm

Though the official start of winter is one month away, this area has already felt the chill and experienced some snow.

There will be many more cold days ahead, and for most people it means increased utility bills.

Missouri residents who meet standards may be eligible to receive assistance with the expense through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which is run through the Missouri Department of Social Services.

According to a Nov. 6 story in the Southeast Missourian, during the 2014 fiscal year more than 146,000 households in Missouri received some type of assistance.

Eligibility requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legally admitted for permanent residence;
• Be the person responsible for paying heating costs for your home;
• Have an income at or below 135 percent of the poverty level ($26,716 annually for a family of three);
• Have savings of $3,000 or less in bank accounts, retirement accounts or investments.

Those in Cape Girardeau and Perry counties who are interested in the program should call the East Missouri Action Agency at 573-431-5191. In Scott County, call the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corp. at 573-379-3851.

Applications are available online at dss.mo.gov/fsd/eassist/pdf/hcapp.pdf.

If you or someone you know is in need of help this winter with heating costs, we encourage you to look into this program.