LIHEAP Program Serves 7,257 Households in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties

During the 2011-2012 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) season, Community Services Consortium served 7,257 households in Linn, Benton, and Lincoln counties.

Some interesting statistics on those households served during the 2011-2012 LIHEAP season include:

1. Total energy payments: $2,224,279.50


2. Total served: 7,527 households (15% decrease over 2010-2011) which included 17,734 individuals (16% decrease over 2010-2011)


3. Of the 7,527 households served:
• 2,158 households had at least one senior member
• 2,698 households had at least one permanently disabled person
• 1,614 households had at least one child under the age of 6 years old
• 934 households had at least one child under the age of 3 years old
• 1,212 households headed by a single female parent
• 136 households headed by a single male parent


4. Of the 7,257 households served, 56% (4,058) of households earned less than 100% of poverty (at 100% of poverty, a household of 2 would have earned less than $1,226 per month gross income, and a household of 4 would have earned less than $1,863 per month gross income).


5. 48% of the households served had a shut off or a past due notice.


6. Unduplicated households served by county:
• Linn County: 4,074 households/10,567 individuals
• Benton County: 1,538 households/3,713 individuals
• Lincoln County: 1,645 households/3,454 individuals

Programs like LIHEAP are critical for keeping low-income households safe, healthy, and warm. Did you know that some of the consequences of unaffordable heating costs include:

• An increase in hunger and malnutrition when people are forced to choose between heating and eating.
• Personal health suffers as people are not able to fill prescriptions, must skip or reduce their medications, or go without needed medical or dental care.
• The elderly, people with disabilities or medical conditions, and small children are put at risk of hypothermia.
• Health and safety is endangered by people using alternate heat or light sources such as kerosene heaters, candles, lanterns, fireplaces or charcoal briquettes.
• Evictions increase and more people become homeless. Many never regain their housing and children leave school.
• Loss of utility service contributes to children going into foster care, as living without utility service is considered neglect.
• People in subsidized housing risk losing their housing voucher if their power is shut off.

If you or your organization would like to help, tax-deductible donations to assist low-income families may be made payable to:

Emergency Services

Energy Assistance Program 2012-2013

Community Services Consortium

250 Broadalbin St. SW, Suite 2A

Albany, OR 97321

541-928-6335, ext. 314