EVERETT — Relief has been granted to hundreds of low- income families in Snohomish County that need help keeping their homes heated during the winter.
Still, hundreds of other families may be left in the cold.
More than 4,300 households were expected to apply for financial aid to heat their homes this winter, but the Snohomish County Energy Assistance Office burned through its $1.4 million in funding planning to cover 3,500 families — about 800 households short of its goal.
More than half of those 800 families will receive money to heat their homes after the Bush administration recently released an additional $3 million that had been provided by Congress. Roughly $200,000 is expected to go to Snohomish County.
“We still need additional funding,” said Christopher Schwarzen, spokesman for County Executive Aaron Reardon. “We’re looking for other ways to find that additional funding. At the moment, this is what we’re expecting, and that’s very good news.”
People who need help heating their homes are encouraged to set appointments with the energy assistance office beginning Jan. 28.
The county plans to set aside half of its federal funding for low-income households in crisis situations.
The energy assistance office was projected to run out of money because families are needing more money to keep the heat on, Schwarzen said.
In the past, families that qualified for assistance received grants of roughly $400, he said. Grant amounts have increased substantially because heating costs have increased, as well as other costs of living such as food, rent and gas.
Statewide, the number of people who need energy assistance is on the rise.
Meanwhile, the amount of federal money budgeted for the program this year remained flat, Schwarzen said.
Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., sent President Bush a letter asking him to free up extra energy assistance money.
“Families are reaching deep into their pockets to keep the heat on this winter,” he said in a statement. “Many face difficult choices that no one should have to make — like whether to put food on the table or heat their home. The heating assistance provided by Congress and released today by the president will help everyone in our community get the help they need to stay warm.”
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
How to make an appointment
People who need financial aid to heat their homes can set an appointment with the Snohomish County Energy Assistance Office by calling 425-388-3880 or by visiting the office in the lower level of the Snohomish County Administration Building at 3000 Rockefeller Ave. in Everett.
Appointments can be set starting Jan. 28.
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