For Hometown News

Volusia County has federal funds from the Low-Income Home Energy

Assistance Program to assist low-income households with home energy heating costs as a result of the recent cold weather.

Funds will be used to assist eligible residents with winter heating for utility service from Dec. 15 through March 31. The maximum benefit per household is $600.

To qualify for assistance, the family household income cannot exceed 150 percent of poverty guidelines.

Applications are available in Volusia County public libraries and online at www.volusia.org/community_assistance/applications.htm.

Completed applications may be mailed to Volusia County Human Services,

123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand, FL 32720. They also may be hand-delivered to the office, located at 110 W. Rich Ave., DeLand, or the county's Human Services offices in

Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach or Orange City.

Eligible applicants will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, call (386) 254-4675 in Daytona Beach, (386) 423-3309 in New Smyrna Beach.