Guthrie County residents needing help keeping their homes warm this winter can apply for assistance through the local New Opportunities office.

The New Opportunities Guthrie County Family Development Center located in Guthrie Center City Hall helps people sign up for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, otherwise known as LIHEAP. Those with an income of no more than the greater of 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines can apply for assistance from now until April 1st. New Opportunities Guthrie County Coordinator Rhonda Huggins shares how much residents typically receive, “Guthrie County averages about $400. So if they sign up and they qualify the average amount that households are getting is right around $400, and that is for the season and then they have to sign up every year for that.”

Huggins adds those who sign up for LIHEAP are automatically added to the weatherization list. She says about 300 households in the county are on that list, which receive assistance with furnace, pipe, and other home winter-related emergencies. Huggins will be at the Stuart Public Library on December 17th to help people sign up for the program. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Huggins, you can reach her at 641-747-3845 or rhuggins@newopp.org.