ENTRANCE

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) entrance is at the rear of the Community Action Program building.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is to assist low income individuals and families within the community who have demonstrated a need for immediate home energy assistance.  In providing energy assistance to individuals and the families, the LIHEAP’s Program Case Specialists take pride in presenting energy conservatory education to clients in order to reduce high energy costs and to prevent the disconnection of client’s energy services.

HISTORY OF LIHEAP

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program was authorized by Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 and began in 1982. Its purpose is "to assist low-income households, particularly those with the lowest income, that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs." LIHEAP was designed to provide help to low-income households with a minimum of government bureaucracy and a maximum of involvement by civic institutions. LIHEAP evolved from earlier programs created in response to the energy crisis of the 1970s. The most notable of these was the Emergency Energy Assistance Program, established when Congress provided funds in 1977 to turn a pilot program into one that was national in scope.

Federal dollars for LIHEAP are allocated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the states as a block grant and are disbursed under programs designed by the individual states. Program funds are distributed by a formula, which is weighted towards relative cold-weather conditions and households living in poverty.

The program is administered at the state and county levels by governmental agencies and implemented primarily at the local level by community action programs (CAPS), local welfare agencies and area agencies on aging.

CATEGORIES OF ASSISTANCE

LIHEAP has three categories of assistance: Home Energy Assistance, Crisis Assistance and Weather Related Assistance.

EXPANDED COVERAGE

LIHEAP has expanded coverage to include Walnut Hill (Walnut Hill Community Center) on the second Monday of each month.  LIHEAP also provide coverage to Cantonment at the Council on Aging on Mitz Lane on the second Tuesday of each month and Century at the Carver Community Center located on Jefferson Avenue on the Second Thursday of each month.

The agency currently provides and energy educational program that will be expanding to the North end of the county which includes Walnut Hill, Cantonment and Century.  All LIHEAP clients are given an Energy Conservation Booklet which will guide the entire family on how to conserve energy and lower their energy costs.

LIHEAP 2009-2010 Income Guidelines

Who is Eligible

Benefits:

The amount of benefits under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program may vary according to income and household size.  Additional information about specific benefit amounts can be obtained by contacting your local Community Action Agency.  After your application is reviewed, you will receive a written notice explaining your eligibility and the amount of assistance you will receive. Payments are generally sent directly to a utility company or fuel dealer and are credited to your account. Please allow 30 days for a response.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOME ENERGY

Home Energy Assistance helps eligible households in meeting the cost of home energy and allows for a benefit payment for eligible households who have obligations for home energy.  The program does allow for a home energy benefit once per calendar year to eligible households.  The amount of the benefit is based on a benefit matrix provided by the Department of Community Affairs.

CRISIS

Crisis Assistance helps eligible households resolve or mitigate a home energy crisis.  Crisis is defined as no access or being in immediate danger of losing access to needed home energy.  A crisis category allows for a benefit payment for eligible households that have an unavoidable heating (payment made October - March) or cooling crisis (payment made April - September).  It may pay the actual home energy bills owed by eligible households and/or other necessary energy expenses.  The amount of the benefit payment is the minimum amount necessary to resolve the crisis.  A household may be determined eligible during only one heating season and one cooling season per contract year.  Agencies may make a crisis benefit payment not to exceed the maximum benefit per crisis is $600.

WEATHER RELATED

Weather Related helps eligible households resolve or mitigate a home energy crisis caused by an emergency declared by the Department of Community Affairs, Governor, President or emergency exists due to weather related conditions.  Some measures allowed during the hurricanes' aftermath were of a restorative nature.  Restoring is construed in the most general sense as anything necessary to restore home power, electric, gas, oil, or other.  Activities allowed were building wiring inspection, utility box replacement, equipment repair/purchase, blankets, fans, utility pole installation, electrical and other utility inspections, contractors/subcontractors cost when applicable and two months utility assistance.  The maximum amount allowable for each crisis is set by the Department of Community Affairs depending on the extent of the damage.  Agencies will grant assistance to eligible households until they exhaust available funds.

LIHEAP APPLICATION PROCESS

The agency must verify LIHEAP eligibility requirements verify means to secure proof of the accuracy of information given by household by obtaining more information from another source.  The application process is designed to obtain information needed to decide eligibility and prevent duplication.  The following information must be obtained along with a completed application: Picture ID for person applying for assistance, Social Security card for everyone in the household, current income of all persons in household, current home energy bill.  A client file is established for each client including all needed information to process the application.  All applicants approved or denial is based on meeting income requirements, after requirements are met, the applicants are notified of the approval or denial status then payment is forwarded to the utility company.

ENERGY EDUCATION

CAPC has developed an energy conservation educational video that provides the clients with valuable information on how to conserve energy and lower their energy costs.

POINT OF CONTACTS

LIHEAP - (850) 607-2088, this number is for clients requesting assistance.

Ms. Lawanda Lawrence, Lead Case Manager, (850) 438-4021, x-124 or Toll Free 1-866-384-4502.

Ms. Delicia Straughter, x-125