BALTIMORE (May 9, 2009) – The Maryland Department of Human Resources announced record-breaking numbers of people served through its Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP). MEAP provides assistance with home heating bills to those who meet the financial guidelines.
The program started accepting applications July 1, 2008, and will cease May 31, 2009. By the end of the 2009 program year, more than 144,000 households will have applied for energy assistance. For the previous program year (2008), 128,168 households applied.
As of April, 108,000 households were eligible for assistance and received an average grant of $564. Compared to the same time period last year, this is an increase of 16,000 more households.
To prepare for the 2010 program year, the Department will conduct two public hearings to garner public comment on its proposed state operational plan. The state plan outlines strategies to provide services to assist citizens to meet their increasing energy cost. The proposed annual state plan is available for review on http://www.dhr.state.md.us/meap/ . Recommendations will be considered in developing the final program plan.
Two public hearings are scheduled, one on June 2, 2009 in Talbot County and the other on June 3, 2009 in Baltimore City.
Source: Maryland Department of Human Resources