Again it has been a while since there has been time to report to the eat or heat blog. Still a busy schedule in applying people for LIHEAP. With the increase in job layoffs I am forecasting a steadily full schedule till the end of the April which is when LIHEAP ends for the season. I'm working as efficient as I can to try and get the word out to the folks who may still not know about this program and are currently unemployed. Speaking of unemployed, unemployment is 1.7% higher in New Hampshire between January 2008 and January 2009 according to http://www.nh.gov/nhes/elmi/lausbrief.htm. Here are some quick numbers for the State of NH and Grafton County. I chose Grafton County because this is the county that I work in.
New Hampshire Unemployment
January 2008 Difference as of January 2009
Employed 708,500 Difference of 13,510
Unemployed 29,180 Difference of 12,760
Unemployment rate 4.3% Difference of 1.7%
Between December 2008 and January 2009 there was an increase of 10,600 people unemployed in New Hampshire. This is frightening because this is just in a one months time.
Grafton County (NH) Unemployment
January 2008 Difference as of January 2009
Employed 46,710 Difference of 1,060
Unemployed 1,640 Difference of 600
Unemployment rate 3.4% Difference of 1.3%
Between December 2008 and January 2009 there was an increase of 690 people unemployed in Grafton County (NH).
Most of the newly unemployed have never had to apply for LIHEAP before and do not know how the program works. I'm on the front line now shooting out as much information as I can to educate those and spread the word before the season ends. I will report on the final numbers at the end of the season.
