NEW ORLEANS–U. S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced last week that Louisiana will receive $61.5 million from the federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program under the Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Reso
NEW ORLEANS–U. S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced last week that Louisiana will receive $61.5 million from the federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program under the Fiscal Year 2009 Continuing Resolution.
LIHEAP funding is administered to states through the Office of Community Services in the Administration for Children and Families at HHS. The funds will assist eligible low-income households in meeting their heating and/or cooling needs. “The release of these funds will help low-income families in Louisiana stay warm this winter,” Secretary Leavitt said.
“These funds will also help reduce the risk of health and safety problems exacerbated by exposure to extreme temperatures.” States will receive their entire FY 2009 block grant allocations before Oct. 30, 2008. Of the $5.1 billion total LIHEAP funding released recently, $57 million will be allocated to Louisiana under the regular block grant and $4.3 million will be allocated as emergency contingency funds.
“The funds released by the Bush Administration will help our most vulnerable citizens in Louisiana, including the disabled, elderly and children,” said Josephine Robinson, director, Office of Community Services at ACF.
Special to the NNPA from the Louisiana
______
Copyright 2008 NNPA. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
About Post Author
