Federal funding for the Low Income Heating Assistance Program is expected to drop more than $1 million for next year, again.
This is the second $1 million cut in federal funding for the program designed to help low-income families with their heating costs. The federal government will provide $17.3 million to the program next year in Vermont.
Leo Clark, chief fiscal officer for the Department for Children and Families, said Congress’ federal sequestration, a program designed to drastically cut spending, is responsible for the cut.
Vermont will provide the program with $6 million next year, down $3.7 million. The total funding for the program in 2013-2014 will be $23.9 million.
The average benefit of the program is expected to decline to $717 per household for the season, the lowest benefit since 2005. In 2012-2013, the benefit was $898.
