With inflation, the war in Ukraine and other factors driving up the cost of heating sources like natural gas and oil, we’re glad to see West Virginia’s U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito once again deliver for Mountain State residents.
Earlier this week, Manchin and Capito announced that $38,680,155 from the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) would be available for state residents in need of assistance.
The funding is available for low-income Americans with energy costs that represent a disproportionate share of their household budgets.
“No West Virginian should have to choose between heating their homes this upcoming winter and paying for necessities like food or medicine. Together with funding previously awarded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue Plan, the funding announced today will help ensure LIHEAP can continue to assist low-income households and seniors in paying for their utilities, cutting costs for families across West Virginia,” Manchin said Thursday.
“I urge the state to move quickly to put these critical funds to work, and I will continue advocating for resources that provide and deliver relief for West Virginians across the Mountain State,” Manchin said.
Capito said West Virginia families and those across the country are struggling enough with rising household expenses caused by inflation.
“As I travel throughout our state, West Virginians continue to raise concerns about rising heating costs as we approach winter. Due to rampant and sustained inflation, American families are struggling to make ends meet on essential costs, like heating their homes. With colder temperatures already settling in West Virginia, this federal funding could not come at a better time,” Capito said.
“Resources through LIHEAP is something that I have consistently supported and helped secure for families across West Virginia. I’m pleased to see the bipartisan infrastructure law that I helped negotiate and craft continue to deliver for West Virginians,” she said.
Now that federal funding has been provided, we urge Gov. Justice to direct the Department of Health and Human Resources to expedite the processing of requests for assistance, as well as to direct additional state funding as needed to make sure all families that qualify receive timely help.
State leaders should also step up efforts to make sure residents know that funding is available to help them through this winter.
With costs for food, health care, housing and other necessities skyrocketing, it’s good to know funding is available to help. But it’s got to get to the families in need in a timely fashion.