LIHEAP funds affected by state budget

Posted on September 23, 2015

*Winter could be rough for many McLean County families. (WJBC file photo)*

By Terry James

BLOOMINGTON – When old man winter turns down the temperature, many needy families in McLean County will not be able to turn up the heat.

The reason? State lawmakers can’t agree on a budget. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps pay energy bills for low income families. No state money will go towards the program as long as a budget is not passed.

Lakeisha James Smith with Mid-Central Community Action says may only be able to help 38-percent of those families they helped last year.

“We’ve added an Education component which includes budgeting,” said Smith. “Which will teach families when they come in or give them the principal of how to budget their finances on an ongoing basis when them come in for their LIHEAP appointments.”

Smith says the program can only be boosted with local donations.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

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