ACAP Getting Ready For Applicants for the Home Energy Assistance Program – WAGM

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) – Cold weather may still be a couple of months away, but it’s never too early to start thinking about keeping your home warm. 

The Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, helps families that meet the program guidelines pay for things such as electricity, propane, coal, kerosene, oil, wood or wood pellets.

Appointments for HEAP will begin on August 25th for those who received HEAP in the past, Erin Benson, the program coordinator with ACAP says they also need to serve more than 3,000 people on top of that. 

“According to guidelines from Maine Housing, we have to serve people they deem a priority. Those people are someone who has a household with someone 60 or above, 6 or below, or somebody who has a disability. Right now, just under those three criteria there are 3,111 people we have to serve before December 1st.”

Benson says once the COVID-19 pandemic began, they had to switch to phone appointments. 

“When COVID hit, mid March, we closed our doors and we had to do all of our appointments over the phone and we are continuing that this heating season”

The program is eligible to people who make below a certain amount of money for their household. For example, a household of 2 people must make less than $2,900 a month. You can see the guidelines at this address: https://www.mainehousing.org/charts/HEAP-Income-Elibility. You can also call ACAP with any questions at 207-764-3721.

Copyright 2020 WAGM. All rights reserved.

Original Source: https://www.wagmtv.com/2020/08/17/acap-getting-ready-for-applicants-for-the-home-energy-assistance-program/