Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Fact Sheet
What We Do
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal block grant program that provides funding to states, territories, and tribes to help households with low incomes meet their home energy needs. LIHEAP provides funding to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, address energy crises, weatherize homes, and/or make minor energy-related home repairs.
Who We Serve
LIHEAP benefits target households with low incomes, particularly those that have a high home energy burden (percentage of income that goes to heating and cooling bills) and/or are older adults, individuals with disabilities, and/or a young child.
2021 Highlights
$8.2B
In funding to support immediate home energy needs and ensure continuity of services
5.3 M
Households served
Advancing Equity
LIHEAP helps reduce the risk of health and safety problems that arise from unsafe heating and cooling situations and practices, particularly for vulnerable households with very young children, individuals with disabilities, and older adults.
Of the households served in FY 2021, 866K included a young child (0-5) 2M included a individual with disabilities, and 2.2M included an adult aged 60 or older
Households Assisted by Service Type
Households received heating assistance
Households received crisis assistance
Households received cooling assistance
Households received weatherization assistance
Eligible Applicants
States, federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations (including Alaska native villages), and territories may apply for direct LIHEAP awards. The states, tribes, and territories then provide assistance to households in need.
Program Highlights
LIHEAP has been providing critical energy assistance to those most in need. Eligible households receive benefits for heating, cooling, crisis assistance, weatherization, and minor home repairs to reduce energy consumption, make homes more energy efficient, and other vital services to help ensure safe indoor air temperature.
FY 2021 LIHEAP program highlights include:
- Flexibility to assist with housing needs for individuals and families temporarily displaced during a crisis situation.
- 23 states and the District of Columbia provided cooling assistance.
- LIHEAP helps to promote racial and energy equity as well as environmental justice by helping to bridge the home energy affordability gap and reduce the energy burden of low-income families and individuals.
- 48 States and the District of Columbia provided assistance for low-cost residential weatherization or other energy-related home repair.
- LIHEAP is a lifeline to many individuals and families who face shutoffs or have unmanageable arrears.
*The presented data for FY 2021 should be considered preliminary pending final data validation.