Minnesota Fuel Funds
- Minnesota's legislature in 1992 required that the state LIHEAP
grantee establish a statewide fund, mobilize resources to garner
donations and set up an advisory committee that will determine
how funds are spent. The fund, called Reach Out for Warmth (ROFW),
is allowed to solicit donations through a payroll deduction for
state employees. The LIHEAP agency, the Department of Children,
Families and Learning, receives advice on use of donations from
a task force comprised of energy providers, community action agency
energy program coordinators and low-income individuals. In past
years, Minnesota has allocated $200,000 of its LIHEAP grant to
local agencies for ROFW. This allowed agencies to serve households
who were in crisis but were over the 50% median income eligibility
for LIHEAP. In addition to the $200,000, agenciesraised $94,435
in PY 2003 from private sources that was matched by LIHEAP funds.
The total amount spent in PY2003 from the ROFW fund was $388,870
that served 1,248 households with an average grant of $264. In
addition, ROFW can repair heating systems that are faulty or not
working.
- The Salvation Army and Minnegasco developed HeatShare in 1982.
HeatShare is funded through customer contributions from Minnesota
utilities and is administered by The Salvation Army. In 2003,
approximately $1,000,523 was raised to assist about 3,244 households.
LEVERAGING (includes church and community donations)
2003: $3.8 million
2002: $2.8 million
2001: $1.6 million
2000: $1.2 million
1999: $640,811
1998: $731,765
1997: $1 million
1996: $1.5 million
1995: $871,932
LEGISLATIVE CODE
1998, Minnesota Statutes,
sec. 119A.42
Page Last Updated: January 27, 2010
