CHICAGO, Ill. (Chambana Today) — As rising energy costs and winter’s chill put pressure on households, Illinois officials are pointing residents to Keep Warm Illinois, a centralized resource for heating assistance, weatherization programs and other support aimed at helping families stay safe and energy-efficient this season.
Low-income households seeking help with energy bills can call 833-711-0374 to connect with state programs that may offer financial assistance, weatherization support and tips to reduce energy costs.
Keep Warm Illinois brings together information from several state agencies, including:
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The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity — responsible for managing the state’s energy-related support programs, including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP). Learn more at the official site: https://www.illinois.gov/agencies/agency.dceo.html.
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The Illinois Department of Human Services, which provides a range of safety-net services that can support low-income families. Visit https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx for details. Illinois Department of Human Services
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The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS), which coordinates disaster preparedness and response programs across the state. More info is at https://www.illinois.gov/agencies/agency.iemaohs.html.
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The Illinois Tollway, which participates in programs such as I-PASS Assist to help reduce transportation costs for eligible families; see https://illinoistollway.com for details.
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible households with winter energy costs and is open for applications through the “Help Illinois Families” initiative. Callers to the energy assistance hotline or visitors to the state site can find links to apply.
The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) focuses on making homes more energy efficient, which can lower long-term heating costs. Officials emphasize that these programs are funded to assist qualifying residents and urge those in need of heating support to explore eligibility and apply early.