Virginia's Poverty Fighting Network

Abingdon, VA - With a struggling economy and predictions of a frigid winter, many Virginians will soon face the daunting task of paying their home heating bills. Rob Goldsmith is the President of People, Inc. in Abingdon, one of the places people can go for help. He says federal funding for a home weatherization program for low-income households in the state recently doubled.

The homes weatherized by his group see an average 28 percent reduction in total household energy consumption, and Goldsmith says the additional funding will allow them to work on more Virginia homes. Local community action agencies and the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development have information about eligibility requirements.

More information about qualifying and applying for LIHEAP funds, as well as a rundown of other low-income energy assistance programs, is available online at http://www.liheapch.acf.hhs.gov/profiles/Virginia.htm.