Thousands of homes in south central Wisconsin will face a heating crisis this winter.

Every year Wisconsin receives 60 million dollars from the federal government to help lower income households heat their homes during the winter. And, we just got more.

This winter 150,000 households in Wisconsin will need assistance to pay their heating bills. And, help has just arrived. Governor Doyle announced Monday that the federal government has added 3.2 million dollars in crisis assistance to the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program.

"What this really does is provide some critical safety net support to reach out to those who are the most vulnerable, the elderly, disabled, working poor and young kids," said Tim Bruer who is with Energy Services, Inc. "Unfortunately heat which is a basic necessity has become an unaffordable luxury."

For the last 20 years the cost of heating oil and the number of people that need assistance has skyrocketed. But, the W.H.E.A.P. fund has basically stayed the same, which has caused a backup. Energy Services, Inc. distributes W.H.E.A.P. monies to 14 counties in Wisconsin, and calls are up 40 percent from this time last year.

"What we try to portray to clients is that we are here to help and this is a great step in the right direction to help alleviate that stress that panic," stated Maima Metzher who is also with Energy Services.

The W.H.E.A.P. money helps household with income levels below 150 percent of poverty. So, a family of four that makes about $31,000 a year is eligible.

Said Bruer, "these dollars that the governors announced Monday will provide the life support that will keep thousand of households in their homes, out of nursing homes and out of crisis shelters."

To see if you are eligible for energy assistance call Energy Services, Inc. at 608-267-8601. If you want to donate to the Keep Wisconsin Warm Fund got to www.kwwf.org or call 800-891-9276.