Gallatin County

Assistance available for those needed heating help

Posted: Jan 17, 2013 5:06 PM by Judy Slate

Montana winters are harsh, so its no surprise that one of the larger expenses for people in the Gallatin Valley is their heating bills. People like Margaret Boardman, who lives in a house built in the 1970's. She says her heat used to be on all the time until the Human Resources Development Council or HRDC winterized her home. "They blew insulation in the walls then sealed up all of the major places where I had air coming in."

Now, Boardman says the house is warmer. Boardman also received assistance from HRDC to pay her heating bills. The money comes from a federally funded program administered by the HRDC called the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). The program offers a one time payment for those who qualify each year. "Generally it pays about two months of your winter heating bills." said Carol Couch HRDC's Energy Program Director.

LIEAP serves about 1,800 households in the Gallatin Valley every year. There's a third energy assistance progran offered by the HRDC called Energy Share of Montana", for emergency situations like a furnace breaking down.

To find out if you are eligible for any of these programs click here.