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

 

 

###