Energy assistance program open for applications to assist low-income Siouxland families

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Low-income families in Siouxland are being urged to apply for an energy assistance program.

The Community Action Agency of Siouxland is asking people to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which is also known as LIHEAP.

You can apply online or by appointment with the Community Action Agency of Siouxland.

Some documentation is required to sign-up.

"So we have served over 2,900 families so far, I think, just for Woodbury County alone. That number should be about 3,400 to 3,500," said Jean Logan, Executive Director of CAAS. "So, there's still a lot of families out there that I think are eligible that we would like to see apply."

Residents of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota may be eligible for the program, but who distributes the funds and income requirements do vary by state.

One thing Logan says is important to note - families that sign up for the program can not have their heat shut off.

"So in Iowa, some people are familiar with the moratorium. If you qualify for LIHEAP, that's what makes you eligible for the moratorium," Logan said. "That means you can not be shut off until temperatures rise above a certain point, generally for LIHEAP, it's after April first."

Iowa's State Auditor Rob Sand says his office has received several questions from Iowans who've been approved for the program but have not received the money.

He says his office is monitoring the situation and believes all the money will be properly distributed by April.

For more information on LIHEAP and how to apply, please visit caasiouxland.org.