The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, start offering crisis grants on Jan. 2 to provide emergency home heating support to those struggling to heat their home this winter.

“The crisis grants are the second phase of the department’s LIHEAP program, which has been offering cash grants since Nov. 1,” Department of Public Welfare Secretary Gary D. Alexander said. “We open the crisis program in January as the temperatures in Pennsylvania really begin to plummet and heating one’s home becomes a lifesaving measure.”

The LIHEAP crisis grants are in place to address heating emergencies such as broken heating equipment, a lack of fuel, or a danger of being without fuel. To expedite the crisis grant process, the department recommends completing an application online at www.compass.state.pa.us. Paper applications are still available through local county assistance offices, or interested applicants can download and print an application from the department’s website.