A nonprofit that supports low-income Iowans is anticipating increased requests for utility assistance this winter. That’s due to a projected rise in energy bills by about 8 percent.
Lorri Ferris leads the Iowa Community Action Association. That group is made up of agencies across the state that distribute the federal program Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP, to help people in need cover a portion of utility bills.
Ferris said she is anticipating more requests for the federal supplemental aid this winter because of inflation and projected energy costs.
“The families that use this resource, you know, often it's older Iowans on fixed incomes, it's families who have disabilities, families with children, and most of the families are working,” she said.
The Community Action Agency of Siouxland administers the LIHEAP program locally.
This year’s LIHEAP funding hasn’t yet been allocated.
Early applications start for certain households in October, and the program runs through April.
