David Francis, The Examiner
2006-08-05 09:00:00.0
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Alexandria -

Virginia residents have 10 more days to apply for cooling assistance from the Virginia Department of Social Services’ Energy Assistance Program.

Households with children under 6, a disabled person, or an adult over 60 years old who meet income requirements are eligible. The program requires income of less than $1,062 a month for a single-person home and less than $2,167 a month for a family of four.

The Energy Assistance Program provides relief during the summer and winter months by granting federal funds to those eligible. The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance program has been providing money to states since 1979, and last year gave help to more than 400,000 Virginians.

In the summer, this program provides money to residents to pay electric bills, repair air conditioners, and purchase air conditioners and window fans.

As of July 30, Alexandria had 232 applications, according to Ann Moore, community services coordinator in Alexandria's Human Services department.

“Last season, we had 258 for the whole season,” she said.

Arlington, as of July 16, had 177 applications, though that number is likely to go up because of the recent heat wave.

“Last year, we had 241 applications,” county spokeswoman Mary Curtius wrote in an e-mail.

Applications should be directed to each respective jurisdiction's Human Services Department.

dfrancis@dcexaminer.com