PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — In order to assist as many eligible households as possible to benefit from the Home Energy Assistance Program this season, Aroostook County Action Program will hold a call in day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10.
“We know there are more households in Aroostook County that qualify for this federal program and our goal is to connect with them to provide assistance. We encourage anyone who qualifies to contact us on Feb. 10 to complete the telephone interview,” said Erin Benson, program coordinator.
She continued, “If you are in need of assistance and unsure if you may qualify, our team can walk you through the process.”
This special event has been created to assist those who have not applied this season and those who have questions about the program. HEAP has connected with more than 5,000 County households to determine eligibility for home heating assistance already this season. In an effort to help even more households, the organization is looking to reach those who may be eligible for the heating assistance program, but have not yet applied.
Anyone who wants to learn more about the program or needs assistance can contact the HEAP Team on Feb. 10 at 207-768-3053. Intake specialists will conduct full appointments over the phone.
The process will take approximately 15 minutes. Following the application interview, documents will be mailed directly to the applicant’s home for signing and returning to ACAP within 20 days. Once the documents are received, the certification team will review the documents and approve or deny the application based on the information provided.
In an attempt to complete the application process, the team will reach out to the applicant if there are any questions or missing information.
HEAP, an assistance program designed to supplement costs as Mainers heat their homes, is available to those who meet eligibility guidelines, including monthly household income, and is available to homeowners as well as renters.
The benefit amount is based on several factors including: household size, income and home energy costs. The guidelines have increased from years past and those who have been denied before or have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to apply.
Income guidelines can be found on the ACAP website at www.acap-me.org/programs/energyhousing/.
