Ashland County will stop administering Home Energy Assistance program; Westcap to take over October 1

Economic support staff told the Health & Human Services Committee that Ashland County will not continue administering the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WEAP) in the next federal fiscal year and that the county’s contract will end Sept. 30.

The presenter said the county’s grant funding is tied to the number and type of applications processed and that additional administrative workload from furnace repair/referral and summer fill programs, combined with competition from online application processors at other agencies, has strained the county’s resources. The county informed state administrators of its decision and county staff said Westcap will administer the program starting Oct. 1; staff emphasized county residents will still be able to access services but through the other agency.

The presenter added the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding outlook is uncertain and that state-level decisions factor into local agency funding. The presenter said the county had previously asked the state for supplemental funds when costs outpaced the local allocation; the state provided additional funding after the county indicated it might stop administering the program.

County staff said they will complete existing contracts through Sept. 30 and will assist residents in transitioning to Westcap for WEAP services beginning Oct. 1. No formal committee vote was required—this was presented as an operational decision affecting program administration and contract planning.