Knoxville, TN (WOKI) If you’re worried about having enough money to pay utility bills this winter, you’re not alone, and there are programs out there to help.

The “Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program,” or LIHEAP can help pay up to $800 on your utility bill, one time per year.

Senior citizens struggling to keep faulty heaters going can also get help to repair or replace them according to experts with the Knoxville-Knox County Social Services.

Those experts say the demand for assistance has increased dramatically already this heating season.

“We’re just seeing more people in need right now,” said Director for Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee Social Services Misty Goodwin. “Rent is skyrocketing in Knoxville right now. People are not able to keep up with that. We see and hear from a lot of single parents who are raising their children who are just not able to make ends meet every month.”

Goodwin said so many people are in need right now, they’re seeing double to triple the number of applications they normally do this time of year. She said with their year starting on October 1, they typically have about 1,000 to 1,500 applications by now; but this year, they already have over 3,000 applications.

Some good news . . . Goodwin said the department has extra funding this year, and they’re hoping it will be enough.

If you need help getting started, Goodwin said to call social services at (865) 546-3500.

Donations from the public, monetary or in the form of heaters for seniors, are also welcome.