It is ridiculous that Vermont has to battle the federal government every year to get its share of money from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Energy costs keep rising, but Congress seems more interested in shoveling tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations than in keeping people from freezing to death in their homes.
Thankfully, our Congressional delegation has worked hard to get as much money as possible for Vermonters. But despite that work, Congress voted last month to cut $1.2 billion from the program that served 8.9 million households last year, an increase of 54 percent since 2008. According to the National Energy Assistance Director's Association (NEADA), a record 9.4 million households will be served by LIHEAP in 2012.
As a result of this cut, Vermont's share of the LIHEAP funds will be about $8 million less than last year.
Vermont received $27.6 million in fuel assistance from the federal government during the 2010-11 heating season, providing an average benefit of $866. This heating season, Vermont expects to receive $19.5 million, providing an average benefit amount of $750, according to Gov. Peter Shumlin.
Last week, Shumlin announced that the state will add $6.1 million to LIHEAP to make up most of the shortfall.
“We should not let vulnerable Vermonters freeze in their homes this winter season,” Shumlin said. “The state will provide the additional funding to help ensure every Vermonter stays warm.”
In addition, the Shumlin administration will review the program to find ways of ensuring sustainable funding in future years, so that the state does not have to scramble every winter to keep this badly needed program going.
Shumlin's first step was to direct the commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, and the fuel assistance office, to study actions the state can take, including a review of eligibility, how the state pays dealers, and other possible sources of revenue.
The goal is to have this report in the hands of the Shumlin administration and the Legislature by the end of the 2012 legislative session.
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Meanwhile, U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, and Rep. Peter Welch, are co-sponsoring legislation to provide level funding for LIHEAP at $4.7 billion.
Sanders and Leahy have called on Senate leadership to bring up the measure when Congress reconvenes this week.
“At a time when heating oil costs are rising and we're in the midst of a major recession, we must do more,” the delegation said in a joint statement late last month. “We must at least restore funding at last year's level for this critically important program.”
Given the antipathy by conservatives in Congress to doing anything for low-income Americans, winning level funding for LIHEAP would be a major victory.
But it still is not enough.
Fuel oil and kerosene cost nearly $1 a gallon more this year on average. Fuel oil is $3.68 a gallon, up from $2.76 in 2010, according to the Vermont Fuel Price Report. Propane prices are up by about 30 cents per gallon more, on average.
According to the Vermont Foodbank, the food shelves and soup kitchens the organization serves have seen their caseloads double compared to last winter.
Some of that increase is attributable to Tropical Storm Irene, but between the struggling economy, rising food prices, stagnant wages, and rising health-care costs, too many Vermont families are forced to choose among groceries, rent, paying a doctor's bill, or heat, knowing that if they are lucky, they might be able to pay for two of these four essential expenses.
Having to make such choices is simply unacceptable in a civilized society. Congress should not just restore LIHEAP to last year's funding level. It should increase its funding to reflect the greater demand.