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LEAP Assists Denver Residents Without Heat During Frigid Times

DENVER (CBS4) - It feels nearly as cold inside Dean Montoya's house as it does outside.

"I can actually see the vapor coming out of my mouth," the Denver resident said.

His gas was shut off Friday. On Monday, the electricity was turned off.

And as temperatures flopped below zero on Tuesday, homes like Montoya's became unlivable. He and family members scattered to places with heat to warm up temporarily.

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Dean Montoya (credit: CBS)

Thousands of Coloradans can't afford to heat their homes, so they turn to programs like Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, or LEAP, for funds to turn back on the furnace.

The program is federally funded program and administered by counties.

At Denver Human Services on Wednesday, at least 10 people were waiting outside before 8 a.m. for the doors to open.

"I think we're going to see a big rush right now," Ashley Craft with the city said.

Georgia Valenzuela waited with her granddaughter at DHS for assistance. Her heat is still on, but she's received a disconnection notice.

"It's cold outside and it's cold in the house. I have her, and she needs to stay warm," Valenzuela said.

Additional Resources

Residents who need LEAP assistance can call 1-866-HEAT-HELP or visit Colorado's LEAP website.

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