WATERBURY, Vt. -
Vermont families getting home heating assistance will get less this year. Cuts to the "Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program" better known as LIHEAP mean people in need will each lose more than three hundred dollars this winter.
Joe Bishop lost everything when Tropical Storm Irene hit last year - at the same time the storm washed away his home, Bishop's wife died.
"I'm disabled, I'm on social security, and I have the only income," he said.
So this year, heating the new mobile home is a big worry.
"I don't know where to go from there," Bishop said.
But a government assistance program, like LIHEAP could help people like Joe, if his income is below the required level.
"For a family of four is 3,554 dollars a month," Richard Moffi, the Fuel Assistance Program Chief said.
Moffi says in past years, 19 million federal dollars were given to Vermont, but this year, there's an eight million dollar shortfall. The state stepped up last year and filled the gap, but may not have the means to do so this year.
Last year 22,000 families in Vermont relied on the program to help them get through the winter in a warm home and already this year, the number of applications is continuing to rise.
Last year low income families received an average of nine-hundred dollars to help heat their homes - this year, the average family will get only 543 dollars.
"That's only going to pay about 20 percent of the average home heating bill," Moffi said.
So while some people are still pumping the A/C, Vermonters know how quickly winter could be reality.
"It's going to be a difficult winter," Bishop said.
But LIHEAP gives Joe Bishop and others like him a better chance to keep warm.
LIHEAP won't turn away anyone who's eligible, but the more people that apply, the smaller each payout must be. Call 1-800-479-6151 to apply.
