COVINGTON — It was about this time last year that a state social service agency was close to running out of funds for a program that helps low-income residents pay heating bills.

        But thanks to a recent allocation of $4.7 million from the federal government, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is in strong financial condition as winter approaches, said Darla Griffin of the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission.

        “That money from the federal government certainly helps put us in a good position,” Ms. Griffin said Wednesday. “And it's a good thing it came because we are getting more people applying for the funds than we did last year at this time.”

        A combination of high fuel prices and low temperatures has increased the number of applications for LIHEAP funds by 19 percent statewide, Ms. Griffin said.

        About 200 more people than last year have thus far applied for the money in and around Northern Kentucky, she said.

        The program helps people pay heating bills and to buy fuel oil or blankets, space heaters or firewood. About 8,000 people use the program in Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Pendleton, Gallatin, Grant, Carroll and Owen counties.

        The Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission administers the federal program in those eight Northern Kentucky counties. Ms. Griffin oversees the program for the commission.

        During the weeks before Christmas last year about half of the 23 community action commissions in Kentucky had exhausted their LIHEAP funding. The Northern Kentucky commission did not run out of money but it came close.

        Then in late December and at the urging of Gov. Paul Patton and Kentucky's congressional delegation, including U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, a Boone County Democrat, President Bill Clinton and federal officials sent $1.6 million to Kentucky for the LIHEAP program.

        “That money saved us last year,” Ms. Griffin said.

        To avoid a similar problem this year Mr. Patton said Wednesday that he requested, and received, $4.7 million in September for the LIHEAP program.

        To learn more about the program, contact the Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission at (859) 581-6607.

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