It has been a typical winter in terms of the number of low income heating assistance applications received by the Mahube Community Council in Detroit Lakes.
To date, Mahube has completed 2,800 applications from residents in Becker, Mahnomen and Hubbard counties, according to program supervisor Nancy Cummings.
Cummings said that number, along with the money issued, is about equal to the previous winters. However, she says a warmer than usual January has lessened what was initially projected to have been spent by this point.
"People's bills, I don't think, have gone up as much as we had expected." she said last week. "Going into this (heating) season I thought it was going to be just awful because the (energy) prices are so very high."
The primary heating season in Minnesota is Oct. 1 through April 15, but Mahube continues to take low income heating assistance applications through May 31.
ADVERTISEMENT
Cummings said households must show proof of income when they apply.
Mahube has allocated $1,678,000 to the 2,800 households in the three counties. Cummings said the state added $13 million to this winter's heating program, and funds remain available to assist households.
For more information, persons can contact Mahube at 218-847-1385.
