AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Labor and Housing Committee voted unanimously, of those present, to advance a proposal from Rep. Raegan LaRochelle, D-Augusta, that would help eligible households in Maine access heating assistance from existing funds in Maine State Housing Authoritys Home Energy Program (HEAP).
LD 2006 directs the Maine State Housing Authority to establish the HEAP Administrative Efficiency Fund and to use state-provided funds for the purpose of improving application waiting and approval times. The funds may also be used for providing resources to establish a long-term system to efficiently process HEAP applications in future years.
Pandemic-related relief funds have placed more money in heating assistance than ever before, but many in need have been unable to access these funds in a timely manner due to significant delays in processing and approving applications.
"Mainers across the state are feeling the financial crunch due to rising energy prices, including the price of home heating oil," said LaRochelle. "The committee's vote puts us one step closer to improving the accessibility and efficiency of a program that provides increasingly critical assistance to those in need."
The measure also directs the Maine State Housing Authority to convene a working group to investigate ways to improve and increase the efficiency of the assistance program in the long term. The working group must include one or more individuals who have used the program.
The bill faces further votes in the House and Senate in the coming weeks.
LaRochelle is serving her first term in the Maine House and sits on the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [LaRochelle] c. 812-1111