Shaheen, Ayotte Announce Release of Heating Assistance Funds

U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) announced Thursday that the Department of Health and Human Services will release Low Income Home Energy Assistance Funds funds for FY 2014.

The release of New Hampshire’s $3.384 million in funding follows a letter Shaheen and Ayotte wrote to HHS last week calling for the immediate release of the state’s LIHEAP funds.

"The release of New Hampshire’s LIHEAP funds is a welcome development for families across New Hampshire," Shaheen and Ayotte said in a joint statement. "To many struggling Granite State families in need, this assistance is critical, especially as our state continues to experience bitter cold weather."

The release of LIHEAP funds will allow low-income families and seniors in New Hampshire to access the critical assistance more quickly. Shaheen and Ayotte advocated for LIHEAP funding as high energy costs and the struggling U.S. economy caused record numbers of Americans to apply for home heating assistance.

Despite an increase of $169 million for LIHEAP funding from FY 2013 to FY 2014, the number of households eligible for LIHEAP continues to surpass those able to receive assistance.