Surveys

Winter Heating Survey

July 28, 2002

4.4 Million Households Served in FY 2002

Approximately 4.4 million low-income households received help with paying their home heating bills in during the FY 2002 (2001-2002) winter heating season, as shown in Table 1. On average, this represents a decrease of 6.7% since 2000-2001 winter heating season. The decline in households assisted can be attributable to two factors: some households did not apply due to warmer than normal temperatures and the amount of LIHEAP funding available declined from $2.25 billion in FY 2001 ($1.4 billion in regular funds plus $855 million in emergency funds to $1.7 billion in regular funds in FY 2002). The decline in households served was not as great as initially expected. While the total number served declined between FY 2001 and FY 2002, the total number served was still 16.4% higher than the total served in FY 2000.

• Table 1 - Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Contact: Mark Wolfe, Executive Director, NEADA, 202-237-5199, mlwolfe@earthlink.net.