Lee County residents facing a disconnection of their electric service services may be eligible for a reprieve.

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to accept $979,612 from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to assist residents with electric costs or to prevent disconnection of electric services.

This allocation will provide assistance to about 1,000 households in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2022. Since May 2017, Lee County Human & Veteran Services has received more than $5.5 million in grant funds for the program. To be eligible, household income must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is one of many the Lee Board of County Commissioners has supported to help residents facing economic challenges. Other programs have included rental assistance, business assistance, food bank assistance and childcare scholarships.

Lee County Human & Veterans Services serves as a collaborative hub for resources ‒ federal, state, local, private and non-profit ‒ designated to aid Lee County residents through supportive programs and services.

For more information, log on to www.leegov.com/dhs or call the department’s coordinated entry help line at 239-533-7996.