Demand for heating assistance is rising in Vermont, and Governor Peter Shumlin is asking the Legislature to approve additional heating assistance funds for this winter.
Vermont’s Governor was joined by key lawmakers and advocates Tuesday as he called for 8.8 million dollars in additional state funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program, known as LIHEAP.
The Governor plans to meet with the Legislature’s Emergency Board next week to get approval for the additional funds.
The governor said the average benefit with the higher funding could maintain last year’s 900 dollar level, but without state support, it will decrease by 40-percent.
The Shumlin Administration is also proposing changing how LIHEAP benefits are issued in order to eliminate a lag in receiving heating aid.