Starke, Pulaski Heating Assistance Programs Begin Soon

 
 
With the weather soon to cool off and the bitter chill of winter quickly approaching, winter heating assistance programs are gearing up to lend a helping hand to keep families warm this winter. Rhonda Overmyer, program coordinator at Community Services of Starke County, said it’s easy to sign up if you qualify for the program.

The program begins Nov. 4 and ends in mid-May, and to qualify, applicants must live in Indiana and earn less than $17,235 for a family of one, $23,265 for a family of two, or $29,295 for a family of three. Overmyer said there are a number of documents that must be provided in order to apply.

“They have to provide social security documentation, their utility bills, all the members of the household on the pre-app, and income documentation for the last 12 months,” Overmyer said.

The director of Pulaski County Human Services, Jackie Frain, said her organization’s mail-out applications have been sent to the elderly and disabled, and urges anyone who received a mailed application to read the included documents and ensure that every required document is returned. She said it must also be signed, properly dated, and all information included to avoid delays.

Frain emphasized that because funding is currently minimal and there is no guarantee more funding will be provided, it’s important that those who are most in need of the assistance apply before the program opens to the general public in November.

Call (574) 772-7070 for Community Services of Starke County or (574) 946-6500 for Pulaski County Human Services.