Winter is fast approaching, and with the drop in temperatures comes the rising cost of staying warm. For folks in Cranston, Johnston and the West Bay, that means bigger bills for electricity, natural gas and oil.

In preparation for this season, area community-service agencies are ready to assist residents who need heating support through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which opened its applications Oct. 1.

LIHEAP is a federally funded program whose mission is to “keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs,” according to the website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which administers the aid.

The program works to prevent utility shutoffs and help with heating and energy bills.

Demand for LIHEAP assistance has grown. The rising costs of utilities and food have contributed to that growth, says Joslyn Groves, director of social services at Westbay Community Action.

"Last year alone, we saw over 4,500 clients, and we expect to increase this year to nearly 5,000 clients in this area,” Groves said. “In Kent County alone there is an increase for the need of help [with] the utilities.”

Similarly, in Cranston, the increased cost of heating has increased need; says Sherry Diaz, vice president of social services at Comprehensive Community Action Program (CCAP).

In Cranston, Scituate and Foster, Diaz estimates the LIHEAP program typically helps 2,700 to 2,800 households a year, but this year she sees that number going up.

Diaz says CCAP has already processed and certified just over 650 applications from households that will receive those grants for the season, and the agency has already served about 800 customers.

With a program such as LIHEAP, it helps free up income for people to spend across other critical needs.

“When they apply for heating assistance, it frees up income for other things that they need – food, medication; a lot of customers are on fixed income, especially our senior population, so a little goes a long way,” Diaz said.

The LIHEAP program aims to help the community with the rising costs of heat and energy in homes. And despite the implications of climate change and generally warmer winters, the need for heating assistance is very steady.

Groves notes that although heating assistance can sound like it aims to help with heat for the home, which is its primary goal, people also use oil for hot water, and gas to cook. It is not only heat that is affected but also utilities, she said.

"Even though it may be a little warmer outside today, the need is still there, and the clients are still coming in,” Groves said.

To help support this program, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed recently announced the appropriation of $24 million to help Rhode Islanders through LIHEAP..

“This federal funding will help keep vulnerable Rhode Islanders safe and healthy through targeted initiatives that lower utility bills,” said Reed in a news release. “LIHEAP is a real lifeline that has proven to make a real positive difference for so many Rhode Islanders.”

Reed said the $24 million in aid will help with the burden for low-income residents, who tend to pay a larger proportion of household income to heat their homes in the winter.

“Nobody should have to choose between affording needed medication or having their heat turned off,” Reed said in a news release.

Through the LIHEAP program, grants are provided to households to supplement the overall costs of heating a home.

The $24-million aid package is a bright spot in the work being done, and for Groves, it is much needed and appreciated. Anything is great, but it is always hard to determine just how much funding is needed now, she explains.

“In the field, I am always going to say we need more,” Groves said.

Westbay CAP, CCAP and Tri-County CAP also have weatherization programs and crisis grants that work to mitigate high energy costs and help households avoid heating emergencies.

For Groves, these programs are all to “hopefully save the participant as much energy as possible to reduce those energy burdens.”

Applications for LIHEAP as well as weatherization programs are open until May. You can check your local Community Action Program for more information on applying,

Comprehensive Community Action Program (Cranston) 401- 467-7013

Westbay Community Action (Warwick) 401-732-4660

Tri-County Community Action Agency (Johnston) 401-351-2750