Patty Hancock's ancestors rumbled across the plains to Colorado on a covered wagon.

Today, without the help of the heating assistance program called LEAP, the ailing, 43-year- old single mother might still be roughing it.

"This is a hard time of year because of the weather change," Hancock said. "When it goes from real hot to real cold, I get sick a lot. Last year I was hospitalized 19 times with asthmatic pneumonia."

Thanks to the Low-income Energy Assistance Program she can keep her four-bedroom home at a healthy 70 degrees for herself and her two teenage daughters.

The federal program, which is state run and county administered, gives her money to pay a portion of her heating bills. Without it, she would quickly break the bank, given her $600 per month disability income.

Since Nov. 1, LEAP has approved approximately 19,000 applications statewide - a nearly 25 percent increase from the number approved at this time last year. The likeliest reasons, officials say, are rising unemployment and higher energy costs.

Though disabled by a fall 23 years ago, Hancock is fully involved in raising her daughters Angela, 13, and Crystal Storm, 15. She also has a 23-year-old daughter, Amanda. Her 10-year marriage ended in 1995, "and since then I've been on my own," she said

And what would life be like without LEAP?

"Well, I don't know if we'd have any public service - gas or lights or any of that - and my family wouldn't be able to have Christmas at all," she said.

At the height of winter, Hancock's monthly heating bill is roughly $400. She pays about $50 of that and LEAP picks up the rest. She's been on the program about 10 years, though she has to reapply every year.

This year, LEAP itself is in the money. If these are bad times for the economy, "it's been a banner year for us," said state LEAP director, Todd Jorgensen.

That's because the federal government has doubled LEAP's funding to $60 million.

The program targets very low-income people, the elderly, disabled and families with children. An income formula determines eligibility.

"You have to show you're vulnerable to rising heating costs - it's not like mom and dad can pay it for you," Jorgensen said.

Hancock's certainly feels vulnerable.

"This is a big deal," she said. "With the money I save from my public service bill, I'm able to buy Christmas for my family."

torkelsonj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5055

About LEAP

* Founded: 1981

* Colorado recipients five years ago: 98,676

* Projected recipients this year: 116,000

* Eligibility: Must fall within 185 percent of the federal poverty level. (For a family of four, that's about $3,269 a month.)

* How you apply: Call the heat help line - 866-HEATHELP (866-432-8435)

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