WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following weeks of bitterly-cold temperatures and extreme winter weather conditions, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is alerting Ohioans to funding that has helped more than 420,00 Ohioans heat their homes and cover their energy costs. Brown released a county-by-county report on the number of Ohio households – particularly seniors and low-income families – that received home heating assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in 2014. More than 314,000 Ohioans have already received funding this winter.
“No Ohioan should have to choose between filling a prescription, putting dinner on the table, or keeping warm,” Brown said. “Last year, more than 420,000 Ohio households relied on LIHEAP funds to keep the heat on. This home heating assistance is critical every winter, but especially with this year’s frigid temperatures. That’s why I’ll continue working to ensure that Ohio has adequate funding to protect our most vulnerable neighbors and family members during the coldest months.”
LIHEAP assists low-income households—particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy—in meeting their immediate home energy needs. In order to receive additional information or apply for LIHEAP funding, Brown is encouraging Ohioans to visit the State of Ohio website or contact their local Community Action Agencies.
Brown has fought to ensure Ohioans are able to afford and meet their energy needs. Following a letter from Brown and two of his colleagues urging that all additional LIHEAP funds be released, the Obama Administration released an additional $20 million last year to help Ohioans pay their bills. The Senators pointed to extreme weather conditions coupled with above average prices in propane, heating oil, and natural gas as key factors to releasing the additional funds.
Below is a county-by-county list on the number of Ohio households that utilized LIHEAP funding last winter (2013-2014).
COUNTY |
NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS |
Adams |
2,818 |
Allen |
4,264 |
Ashland |
1,196 |
Ashtabula |
5,415 |
Athens |
2,987 |
Auglaize |
1,176 |
Belmont |
2,744 |
Brown |
2,270 |
Butler |
7,868 |
Carroll |
1,084 |
Champaign |
1,514 |
Clark |
5,769 |
Clermont |
3,343 |
Clinton |
2,597 |
Columbiana |
5,583 |
Coshocton |
1,919 |
Crawford |
2,166 |
Cuyahoga |
66,083 |
Darke |
1,794 |
Defiance |
1,470 |
Delaware |
1,637 |
Erie |
2,945 |
Fairfield |
4,576 |
Fayette |
1,889 |
Franklin |
37,560 |
Fulton |
1,180 |
Gallia |
1,896 |
Geauga |
1,180 |
Greene |
3,219 |
Guernsey |
2,579 |
Hamilton |
19,156 |
Hancock |
2,350 |
Hardin |
1,201 |
Harrison |
841 |
Henry |
790 |
Highland |
2,995 |
Hocking |
1,885 |
Holmes |
582 |
Huron |
2,741 |
Jackson |
2,725 |
Jefferson |
4,529 |
Knox |
2,099 |
Lake |
4,679 |
Lawrence |
4,574 |
Licking |
4,411 |
Logan |
2,009 |
Lorain |
8,897 |
Lucas |
21,239 |
Madison |
1,382 |
Mahoning |
12,659 |
Marion |
3,077 |
Medina |
3,006 |
Meigs |
1,674 |
Mercer |
1,092 |
Miami |
2,760 |
Monroe |
858 |
Montgomery |
19,414 |
Morgan |
1,217 |
Morrow |
1,405 |
Muskingum |
5,148 |
Noble |
634 |
Ottawa |
990 |
Paulding |
959 |
Perry |
2,401 |
Pickaway |
2,215 |
Pike |
2,744 |
Portage |
4,342 |
Preble |
1,510 |
Putnam |
893 |
Richland |
5,292 |
Ross |
5,112 |
Sandusky |
1,816 |
Scioto |
6,733 |
Seneca |
1,801 |
Shelby |
1,656 |
Stark |
12,847 |
Summit |
17,201 |
Trumbull |
7,264 |
Tuscarawas |
3,132 |
Union |
1,287 |
Van Wert |
1,189 |
Vinton |
1,316 |
Warren |
2,412 |
Washington |
2,899 |
Wayne |
3,351 |
Williams |
1,088 |
Wood |
2,119 |
Wyandot |
766 |
Total |
420,085 |
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