This morning as I was getting ready to come in and battle the fuel crisis, this man named Paul Camyre, 89, was on the TV screen. He was telling his story of his struggle this year about paying for his taxes or heating his home. This is a just another example of heat or eat. This heartbreaking story today has touched many Americans. Something that is not new to me, I hear these stories on a daily basis. Out of site out of mind, not so much anymore.....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=562u-_9NzIw

Confused about LIHEAP...we are (sometimes...)

Here is a great site to help you better understand LIHEAP and what all those congress people are doing and how much New Hampshire is getting. It has constant updates (no pretty graphics though...) www.neada.org Its the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.
Here is the most recent press release...

"Congress Passes CR, Increases LIHEAP Funding to $5.1 Billion

September 26, 2008

The FY 09 CR was passed by the Senate on Saturday by a vote of 78-12. It now goes to the President for signature and there is every expectation that he will sign it. So, we are even closer to a historic victory for LIHEAP! Thanks so much for your help the last year in providing data, program summaries, etc. It helped a great deal. The numbers were used as part of the Appropriation Committee calculations.

The CR provides $5.1 billion for LIHEAP of which $4.5 billion would be for the basic grant, an increase of $2.53 billion in the basic grant from $1.98 billion in FY 08. The remaining $590.3 million would be provided as emergency contingency funds, the same level as provided in FY 08. Of the funds provided for the basic grant, $3.669 billion will be allocated by holdharmless or Tier 1 part of the formula and $839.9 million by Tier 2 and Tier 3.

In addition, the bill:

1. Increases the eligibility ceiling from the greater of 150% of poverty or 60% of state median income to the greater of 150% of poverty or 75% of state median income,
2. Allows states to carryover any funds remaining from FY 08 to FY 09
3. Requires that all funds provided be obligated within 30 days of enactment. This would seem to suggest that the Administration would be required to obligate the $590.3 million in emergency contingency funds. I will be checking today to see if in fact that is the legal interpretation."

If you go to the site - you can click on the Appropriations Table to see how we (New Hampshire) fare in all of this mess.

The update from the Tri-County CAP line is this...

We have 5,145 households who have applied for FAP or have scheduled appointments to apply.
At this date last year there were 4,112 households. This is an increase of over 25%.

Last year at this time the price of heating oil was about $2.70/gallon.
This year it’s $3.95 – an increase of more than 46%.

Last year we ended up with 6,746 households qualifying for benefits and we provided $4,661,164.01 in benefits. Our present contract with the state is for $2,332,357 in benefits.

eak...joie&angel...coming to you from the no-stress-express...