Illinois saw a rapid increase in applications for energy assistance at the county level, including a sharp jump in applications in its most at risk counties. In order to streamline the process, incoming governor Pat Quinn has helped to speed up the decision making process, allowing households to receive Liheap and state-based energy assistance grants with a shorter window. Relative to last year, nearly 40% more Illinois households applied for the programs, resulting in over $4 million in energy assistance aid to state families.
The state Low Income Energy Assistance Program provides emergency funds, energy assistance grants as well as funding to help households improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Since the state gets quite cold, the program also provides emergency disconnection support for households at risk of low energy. For households seeking to improve their energy efficient, the IHWAP program (Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance) provides need-based grants to households to help improve energy efficiency. Coordinated by the state, the program provides grants to upgrade existing homes, insulate homes against cold weather, as well as rebates on upgrading to energy efficient supplies.
Illinois works with the federal government’s Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate nationally-based grants based upon income. Additionally, households can qualify for a variety of public-private partnership programs including Keep Warm Illinois. Working with local charity groups and utilities, the program provides subsidies and emergency funding for at-risk households to ensure they make it through particularly cold months. With a mandate to conserve energy, upgrade homes and provide emergency assistance to households, Keep Warm has been one of the most successful programs implemented on the state level. Led by Governor Pat Quinn, households can stay over in Warming Centers as well as getting education and resources to help lower winter heating costs.
A combination of locally based charity groups, state government programs and federal grants ensures that Illinois families have a variety of resources to ensure they can make it through the winter without concern for losing their heating capacity.
