The
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps
pay the winter heating bills or summer cooling bills of
low-income and elderly people. During extreme weather conditions,
people living in poverty and low-income elderly should not
have to choose between buying fuel to heat or cool their
homes and buying food for themselves and their families.
Since two-thirds of the families receiving LIHEAP assistance
have incomes of less than $8,000 a year, the program clearly
helps the people who need help the most.
This Web resource is sponsored by the Campaign for Home
Energy Assistance. Included here is general information
about the LIHEAP program and who it serves, media information,
news, and ideas for what you can do to help save LIHEAP.
Find out more about what you can do to support LIHEAP: www.supportliheap.org
The Campaign maintains an email list to provide updates
and information. To subscribe click
here.
Are
you looking
for energy assistance?
The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance is a coalition
representing advocates for LIHEAP -- social service agencies,
utilities and energy industry trade associations -- and
works in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the program nationally
and ensure that it receives adequate federal funding.
We are not involved in the
day-to-day operations of energy assistance programs in any
state. For that reason, we are unable to answer questions
about individual states' programs, expedite the application
process or serve as an intermediary regarding issues at
the local level.
Although the Campaign does not deal directly with individuals’
LIHEAP requests, there are sources to which you can turn
for assistance. Go here for
more information about what office to contact in your state. |
September 30, 2008 : President Signs FY09 CR with $5.1 Billion in LIHEAP Funding
This evening, the President signed a Continuing Resolution that increases funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to the Congressionally authorized level of $5.1 billion. This historic decision is the result of tireless work by the program's champions in the House and Senate who recognized the vital need for more money in this program and refused to accept "no" for an answer. While it is difficult to single out every member who has led the fight for additional LIHEAP support, the Campaign would like to particularly acknowledge the leadership of Representatives David Obey, Karen McCarthy, Northeast/Midwest Coalition cochairs James Oberstar and Steven LaTourette and Senators Tom Harkin, Jack Reed, Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Bernie Sanders for their dogged commitment to this issue
The $5.1 billion appropriation allocates $4.5 billion into formula block grants to states, and $590 million to the emergency contingency fund. The bill directs that the federal government obligate funds to the states within 30 days of enactment. Additionally, the bill language increases the income eligibility to 75 percent of state median income
The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance further expresses our gratitude to the entire community of LIHEAP supporters for continuing to press the case for more funding. The experts on the ground, working with the needy to help administer this program, are the true heros in this story. We know that even the additional funds will not cover the overwhelming need around the country, but we also know the difference that additional resources will make in the lives of hundreds of thousands of households.
A complete state by state breakdown of FY 2009 LIHEAP funding can be found below.
LIHEAP Funding State Fact Sheets
See New 2008 LIHEAP Investment
FY2008 supplemental funding: February 7, 2008
A bipartisan group of Senators led an effort to include as much as $3.62 billion additional FY2008 funds in the 2008 economic stimulus package. Unfortunately, this effort was not successful. This came on the heels of an initial amendment offered by Sen. Sanders-Snowe to add $1 billion to the program.See Senate floor remarks on Sen. Sanders amendment and remarks on Stimulus package.
February 4, 2008: Administration Slashes LIHEAP Budget
Today the President released the 2009 Budget request to Congress, which includes funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance is disappointed to see that the President requested just $2 billion for the program. This request (22 percent less then FY 2008) borders on the irresponsible.
It is clear from this big cut that there is a fundamental misunderstanding of the program's budgetary needs. In fact, the program is already having difficulty in reaching its goal of assisting low-income households meeting their home energy needs with current funding. The combination of rising energy costs and stagnant appropriations is forcing many states to reduce the number of households served, reduce the average benefit, or in many cases both. This budget request would stretch a program that currently covers just 16 percent of eligible households.
The release of the budget is happening at the same time that LIHEAP supporters in the Senate are working hard to respond to this crisis by adding resources to the Economic Stimulus bill. The Campaign calls on the Senate to support additional LIHEAP funding in the stimulus as the package moves forward! The proposed level would take the program past its 2006 level of $3.2 billion so that states can provide help to more low-income households and the elderly in need of energy assistance.
The Campaign also calls on Presidential candidates to renounce the President's cut and show their commitment to the future growth of the program.
November 16: New LIHEAP Educational Video:
February 1, 2007 | Campaign for Home Energy Assistance releases 2007 LIHEAP White Paper
The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance has created a white paper, The LIHEAP Investment, intended as an eduation piece for those new to the LIHEAP issue. A copy of this document is available in pdf form, and may be downloaded here and used for in advocacy and education efforts.
November 3, 2006 | Campaign for Home Energy Assistance releases the FY 2003 Databook
The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance's FY 2003 Databook is now available. The Databook is an annual publication that includes an overview of the LIHEAP program from a national perspective and a state-by-state analysis of the LIHEAP program and the populations it serves. The FY 2003 Databook can be found here.
October 13, 2006 | Campaign for Home Energy Assistance to release 2006 Public Opinion Poll on LIHEAP Funding
On October 13, 2006 the Campaing released polling information regarding public support of LIHEAP. The findings of this poll are an update of previous surveys conducted by the Campaign in 1999 and 2002.
The entire survey is available at the following links:
Downloadable PDF
Complete survey results
Summary of survey results
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