KIRKSVILLE -- The summer heat is blazing down on the Heartland, but are there any cooling centers or cooling assistance available in the Heartland?
As of now there are no plans to set up cooling centers in the city of Kirksville, however; if you are not able to get air condition in your residence, you are advised to go to a neighbors house or a local business around town.
KTVO contacted the North East Community Action Corporation on Tuesday. The NECAC provides summer utility assistance to needy people in the Northeast part of Missouri. The NECAC will only have a budget of $313,000 this summer compared to $446,000 ECIP funding from 2010. This budget is meant to last until September 1, 2011.
In order to qualify, people must meet income guidelines and receive a utility shut off notice. If the household meets these requirements, that residence can receive $300 dollars to help pay for utility bills. That money that comes from the federal government goes directly to the utilities and is never handled by clients. However, according to Public Relations Officer Brent Engel, that money will quickly be gone.
"We don't anticipate having any money within a couple of weeks because we have distributed almost 28% of it now, so once that money is gone unless there is a additional pool of funding sent down from the federal government, we wont be able to offer utility services until the winter season which begins later this fall," Engel said.
If you would like more information on how to apply for assistance, click here.
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