By Pat Bradley
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-963505.mp3
Plattsburgh, NY – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released $311 million in heating assistance money to the 50 states. The agency said the funds, released last week, supplement previous LIHEAP funding made available to states under continuing resolutions approved since October 1. In the latest round, New York gets 5.1 million dollars, Vermont receives just over 2.3 million dollars in this allocation, Connecticut just over a million and Massachusetts just under 800-thousand dollars.
Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity Director of Public Policy Tim Searles maintains that these are not new LIHEAP funds, but simply Health and Human Services finally getting authorization to distribute what had already been appropriated.....
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Central Vermont Community Action Council Executive Director Hal Cohen says the federal release of funds came at an important time......
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Cohen says while the funding is a significant amount right now, as the heating season ends, it would be a drop in the bucket at the start of the fall and winter....
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Again, CVOEO's Tim Searles......
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With the just-released Liheap funding, New York's home energy assistance program will continue to accept applications into mid-May.