The Jamestown Sun
Low-income households with no air conditioning might be eligible for some relief thanks to a program from the North Dakota Department of Human Services and county social service offices.
The program provides a $300 voucher to households of three or more with an annual income of less than $34,459 and one or more persons who are vulnerable to a heat-related illness because of a medical need.
Qualifying individuals may include the very old, the very young, anyone with a chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer, emphysema or other respiratory illness, said Marjorie Triebold, physician assistant with Dakota Clinic. Also, people who work outside are more vulnerable to heat-related illness because they need time to replace lost body fluids, Triebold said.
The program was announced Wednesday in response to soaring temperatures in the state this week.
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About 600 people participated in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program which assisted with heating last winter. The county didn't have the cooling assistance program last year because local weather conditions didn't qualify or there wasn't money for the program.
Fewer people will probably participate in the cooling assistance program because the heating assistance program doesn't require a medical condition, said Elise Miller, human service program administrator for the Stutsman County Department of Social Services.
Eligible individuals are still encouraged to apply, said Director Sandy Bendewald. Individuals who aren't sure if they qualify for the program can visit with someone in social services before arranging a medical appointment.
"In extreme heat, it can be very dangerous especially for those with medical need," Bendewald said.
Applications are available the Social Services Office at the Stutsman County Memorial Building, 116 First St. E. The office is open from 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. To make an appointment outside of office hours, call 252-7172. Individuals must apply by Aug. 31.
