A non-profit program that helps low-income individuals and families in Windsor and Essex County, Ont., pay their heating bills is expecting its busiest winter ever, its director said Monday.

Keep the Heat, which launched Nov. 1, will help up to 600 households in 2009-2010, according Anna Angelidis, the executive director of the Housing Information Services of Windsor and Essex County Inc., one of six social service agencies that collaborate on the program.

That's a 20 per cent increase over 2008-2009, Angelidis said.

But funding for the $155,000 program, which comes from the City of Windsor, Enwin Utilities and government agencies, has stalled.

"The funding that we have secured to date, it's 40 per cent less than what we had to work with last year," Angelis said. "We will continue our efforts to seek additional funding."

Now in its sixth year, Keep the Heat offers a maximum of $1,000 to families receiving the National Child Benefit or individuals on fixed or low incomes. Assistance is available from Nov. 1 until the money runs out.

Angelidis says the program anticipates receiving additional funding from the city and Enwin.