The two main resources for low income families to help pay for heating and utility bills are the Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) and weatherization. These programs are federally funded but state-supervised. The money for the food stamps come from the federal government, but the applications are done at the county level. The phone numbers to apply are listed below. The town and county approve cash disbursements. In order to be considered for the position, you must submit an application.
The state of Colorado offers two programs, LEAP and weatherization, to low-income residents in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and local community action agencies. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income families and individuals pay their heating bills. LIHEAP also provides funds to states and tribes to help them with energy assistance programs. The two programs offer residents the ability to save money on their energy bills and help pay their winter heating bills.
Energy, heating bill, and conservation assistance in Colorado
The Colorado LEAP program was not designed to cover a person’s entire home heating costs. If you are applying for this government program, please continue to pay your home heating bill while the application is being processed and as you wait for results. Support is only offered to people who are both U.S. citizens and residents of Colorado. Your income must meet the state and federal government guidelines. The more people in your home, the higher your income can be. You need to be responsible for either paying heating fuel costs directly to an energy provider or having it be part of your rent.
If your application is approved, then you will receive assistance from your local community action agency. This can be given to you as a credit on your account. The amount of money given to the applicant will depend on how much they spend on heating, what type of fuel they use, what kind of dwelling they live in (mobile home, house, apartment, etc.), and how much money they make. Eligible residents may expect to receive up to $500 from LEAP on average.
The Colorado Crisis Intervention Program is designed to help families in need of repairing or replacing their primary heating system or furnace. To apply, fill out the form on the website. For more information, please call 1-866-432-8435 or contact your local community action agency.
People who get help from the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program may also be able to get free weatherization services. This program will help you improve the energy efficiency of your home. This federal government program is available for mobile homes as well as other types of homes. The upgrades and improvements done to your home are focused on reducing your energy usage and will help you save you money while improving the comfort of your home year round.
The program is also available to renters, who can benefit from it. If the landlord agrees to it, people who rent in single-family, multi-family and/or mobile home residences can qualify for the free CEO Weatherization Program. The most common upgrades for mobile homes are installing storm windows and insulation, caulking, skirting insulation, and replacing the furnace.
The weatherization improvements may include additional insulation in the attics and walls, free furnace replacement and tune-ups, energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs, installing storm windows and doors, and sealing air leaks. The program provides funds to help families in Colorado weatherize their homes, making them more energy efficient and comfortable while also saving money on utility bills. It can also be offered alongside the Colorado Home Heating System Repair/Replacement program.
Applying to LIHEAP low income energy bill assistance grants
Community action agencies and the CEO Weatherization Program work together to provide assistance in towns, cities, and counties across the state. In order to qualify for this program, you must submit an application and be placed on a waiting list. The waiting list for this program is similar to the waiting list for LEAP. This means that not a lot of homes will be weatherized every year because the federal government doesn’t have a lot of money to fund it. To find out more information or to apply, please call 1-866-432-8435. Leap stands for “Leadership, Education, and Planning.” It is a program in Colorado that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) plan for their future. The program provides information and resources on a variety of topics, including education, employment, housing, and health care. Leap also offers workshops and support groups for people with IDD and their families.
Once the audit is done and they know what your home needs, they will schedule a time for the work to be done. A group of highly trained weatherization technicians will come and do the work. An inspection will occur afterwards to ensure everything was completed to program specifications. After the free work is completed, you will save money on your energy bills and have a more comfortable home.