Low-Income Home Energy Assistance

 

The objective of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is to make awards available to States, the District of Columbia, US Territories, and Native American Tribes and Tribal organizations for the purpose of assisting eligible households to meet immediate home energy needs. The target population is low-income households, especially those with the lowest incomes and the highest home energy costs or needs in relation to income and family size. There are four components of LIHEAP: (1) block grants, (2) energy emergency contingency funds, (3) leveraging incentive awards, and (4) the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH). Block grant funds are distributed by formula to grant recipients who design their own programs according to very broad federal guidelines. Contingency funds may be awarded to grant recipients in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency and typically must be utilized under the normal statutory and regulatory requirements that apply to block grants. Supplemental Leveraging Incentive funds allows for HHS to set aside a portion of appropriated funding to reward grant recipients that have acquired non-federal resources to provide services to LIHEAP-eligible households beyond what could be provided by Federal funds. The REACH program makes competitive grants available to grant recipients to help eligible households reduce their energy vulnerability through community-based organizations. Contingency funds, leveraging incentive awards, and REACH funding are only administered when funding for those components is available and allocated to them. This program is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Community Services.

Active 93.568 Administration For Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services A - Formula Grants Fiscal Year 2016 It is anticipated that 279 grants will be awarded in FY 2016. 211 grants awarded in FY 2016.
Fiscal Year 2017 211 grants were awarded.
Fiscal Year 2018 206 grants awarded in FY 2018.
Fiscal Year 2019 205 grants were funded in FY 2019.
Fiscal Year 2022 206 entities received regular LIHEAP FY 2022 funding. ACF awarded 192 recipients with IIJA of FY 2022 LIHEAP funding on January 25, 2022. 206 entities received regular LIHEAP FY 2021 funding. ACF awarded 196 recipients with ARPA of FY 2021 LIHEAP funding on May 4, 2021. Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, Section 121
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 8621-30 All States, the District of Columbia, federally and State-recognized Indian Tribal governments and organizations, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands may receive direct awards. Only LIHEAP recipients active in FY 2022 received IIJA LIHEAP grants without need for a separate application. There were 14 recipients that did not receive IIJA LIHEAP funding because ACF had already awarded the maximum permitted for FY 2022 to those Tribes. Energy Assistance Block Grants: Households with incomes up to the greater of 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) or 60 percent of the estimated State median income (SMI) are eligible for benefits. Recipients may establish lower income eligibility levels, but they may not set the limit below 110 percent of FPG. Training and Technical Assistance Grants/Contracts: States, the District of Columbia, Indian tribes or tribal organizations, and Territories managing LIHEAP programs are the intended beneficiaries of the technical assistance services. Each grant recipient is required to submit a LIHEAP Model Plan annually which describes how the grant recipient's program will be administered. This includes a set of program integrity questions where the grant recipient must describe the systems in place to detect and deter fraud, waste, and abuse. Additionally, the chief executive officer of the State, Tribe or Territory or his/her designee, must certify to 16 assurances required by federal law and submit documentation of the public participation the recipient obtained on its Plan for the coming year. Households must meet beneficiary eligibility requirements set by recipients. A separate application is required for grant recipients that wish to apply for a leveraging incentive award or a REACH grant, if funds are available. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles. Preapplication coordination is required. Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. All prospective LIHEAP grant recipients must obtain public participation through inspection and comment on their proposed LIHEAP Plans prior to submitting their Plans to ACF. Additionally, States must conduct public hearings with respect to the proposed use and distribution of funds to be provided. Tribal recipients are not required to conduct public hearings; however, meaningful public input is required. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Some sections of 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program (see also 45 CFR Part 75). Each State. Territory, or Tribe desiring to receive an allotment for any federal fiscal year shall submit an application (LIHEAP Plan) via the ACF OLDC system no later than September 1st each year, unless otherwise directed by ACF. The prospective recipient's Plan must contain certification of the federal LIHEAP assurances by the chief executive officer of the State (Tribal Chief/Chairperson), or his/her designee. The Plan must include an explanation of how the entity sought public participation on the Plan and to what extent their Plan and policies changed as a result of the public comments received. Block Grants are made upon receipt of a complete application (Plan) by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services via the OLDC system. Leveraging Incentive Funds can be awarded based on applications submitted by recipients when sought by ACF. Instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released. Applications competing for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated by objective review panels using only the criteria described in the NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson. Results of the competitive objective review are taken into consideration by ACF in the selection of projects for funding, however, objective review scores and rankings are not binding as scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. ACF reserves the right to consider preferences to fund organizations serving emerging, unserved, or under-served populations. and to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio, considering geographic distribution of federal funds. ACF will complete a review of risk posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR 75.205. ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management of financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and management subrecipient. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested. States and Territories must submit their applications for block grants by September 1, prior to the federal fiscal year for which funds are sought, unless the Department agrees to a later date in the form of an approved extension. The Department will only award new funding after it has reviewed and accepted complete Plans from prospective grant recipients. Grant recipients that submit incomplete plans must address the deficiencies, no later than December 15 of the fiscal year for which funds are sought, unless the Department (in the case of States and Territories) or the State (in the case of Tribal recipients) agrees to a later date in the form of an approved extension. Leveraging incentive fund reports are due by November 30 of each year, if funding is available. REACH applications are due by March 30 of each year, if funding is available. No application was needed to receive IIJA LIHEAP funding. For Block Grants, the Department reviews plans for completeness and will act on the plans submitted as quickly as possible. Leveraging Incentive and REACH applications will be reviewed and acted upon within deadlines. The range of review time varies for training and technical assistance applications depending upon the nature and complexity of a request for proposals and as established by the Department. Separate instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released. Recipients may request a hearing regarding repayment of funds or withholding of funds under Section 2608 of the authorization and 45 CFR 96.52 for Block Grants. There is no appeal for unsuccessful applicants for training and technical assistance. For existing recipients, appeals in regards to disputes may take place in accordance with 45 CFR Part 16, subject to the limitations of the Appendix A. Annual applications are required for Block Grants. Separate annual applications are also required for Leveraging Incentive Funds and REACH funds. Instructions will be issued if emergency contingency funds are released. Non-competing continuations will be issued for training and technical assistance based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with award terms and conditions, and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government. Criteria pertinent to LIHEAP award are announced in Action Transmittals to eligible entities regarding regular energy assistance block grants, Leveraging grants, and/or REACH grants. Criteria for selecting REACH proposals will be published in the Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). Those notices will be made available on https://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html. Block Grant funds are awarded to States, eligible Tribes and Tribal Organizations, and Territories, which then make payments directly to an eligible low-income household or, on behalf of such household, to an energy supplier to assist in meeting the cost of home energy. Up to 10 percent of these funds may be used for planning and administration by state and territories recipients. Tribal Organizations have a different administrative earmark. Up to 15 percent may be used for low-cost residential weatherization. Beginning April 1st each year, LIHEAP recipients may request in writing a waiver from HHS for that federal fiscal year to increase the amount of funds that can be allotted by the recipient for residential weatherization up to 25 percent of the total LIHEAP award for that year. Recipients must reserve a reasonable amount of funding for crisis assistance through at least March 15th each year. Depending upon specific appropriations, HHS may allocate supplemental LIHEAP leveraging incentive funds to current recipients, based upon receipt of a Leveraging Report made available by the Department regarding the extent to which the recipients acquired nonfederal leveraged resources in order to provide additional benefits and services to LIHEAP-eligible households to help them meet their home heating and cooling needs. Funds may also be allocated by HHS to current LIHEAP recipients, based upon a REACH proposal submitted by the recipient to the Department, when solicited. The proposal must provide services, through community-based nonprofit organizations for state recipients, to LIHEAP-eligible households to reduce their energy vulnerability, including health and safety risks posed by a high home energy burden, preventing homelessness due to home energy, and increasing the efficient usage of home energy. Additional funds may be authorized and distributed as emergency contingency funds to meet needs arising from a natural disaster or other emergency. Such funds will be made available only after submission to Congress of a formal budget request for all or part of the funds by the President that designates the amount of the request as an emergency under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. Under the LIHEAP statue (42 U.S.C. 8628a) the Secretary has authority to set aside up to $300,000 for technical assistance and training purposes. In FY 2012 Congress raised the amount available to the Secretary for LIHEAP training and technical assistance to $3 million. . Since FY 2014, Congress has earmarked approximately $3 million for each fiscal year for training and technical assistance services and monitoring. These activities can be accomplished through grants, contracts, or jointly financed cooperative or interagency agreements with other Federal departments, States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, public agencies, private companies, and private nonprofit organizations. Funds are used to conduct on-site compliance reviews of LIHEAP recipients and to provide training and technical assistance. The nature and amount awarded for training and technical assistance varies from year to year. Not applicable. However, according to 42 USC 8624(b)(10) and 45 CFR 96.31(a), LIHEAP recipients and sub-recipients are responsible for obtaining audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507) An independent auditor in accordance with generally accepted Government auditing standards covering financial audits shall make the audits. Award records must be maintained in accordance with 42 USC 8624(b)(10) and 45 CFR 96.30(a). Statutory Formula: Title n/a Chapter n/a Part n/a Subpart n/a Public Law n/a 42 USC 8623

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Block Grant awards are made to recipients with complete applications (Plans) for carrying out the program within the federal fiscal year. Up to 10 percent of a federal fiscal year's award may be held available for obligation by the recipient in the subsequent federal fiscal year. For Leveraging Incentive Funds or REACH funds, obligation must occur by the end of the federal fiscal year following the year in which the funds are appropriated, without regard to the 10 percent carryover limit. For IIJA LIHEAP funds, obligation must occur by September 30, 2023, with regard to the 10 percent carryover limit in the LIHEAP statute by September 30, 2022. See the following for more information: Section 2607 of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, (42 USC 8626) as amended. None/Not specified. Megan Meadows, Director
Division of Energy Assistance,
Office of Community Services,
Administration for Children and Families,
Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, DC 20201 US
megan.meadows@acf.hhs.gov
Phone: 2024011149
Fax: 2024015661

Andrew Germain, Fiscal Branch Chief
Division of Energy Assistance,
Office of Community Services,
Administration for Children and Families,
Department of Health and Human Services
Washington, DC 20201 USA
andrew.germain@acf.hhs.gov
Phone: 2023086444
Fax: 2024015661 https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap 75-1502-0-1-609 (Formula Grants) FY 22$4,600,000.00; FY 23 est $9,600,000.00; FY 24 est $9,600,000.00; FY 21$3,500,000.00; FY 20$2,988,000.00; FY 19$2,987,799.00; FY 18$2,391,345.00; FY 17$2,391,345.00; FY 16$2,418,568.00; - Training and Technical Assistance(Formula Grants) FY 22$3,795,704,000.00; FY 23 est $3,950,496,000.00; FY 24 est $4,060,386,000.00; FY 21$3,709,300,960.00; FY 20$3,737,316,000.00; FY 19$3,650,412,960.00; FY 18$3,390,598,085.00; FY 17$3,393,585,459.00; FY 16$3,369,018,056.00; - LIHEAP Formula Grants(Formula Grants) FY 22$323,063.00; FY 23 est $0.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$1,400,127.00; FY 20$657,885.00; FY 19$1,775,456.00; - Re-Allotment Grants(Formula Grants) FY 22$100,000,000.00; FY 23 est $100,000,000.00; FY 24 est $100,000,000.00; FY 21$0.00; - Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)(Formula Grants) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $1,000,000,000.00; FY 24 est $0.00; - Continuing Appropriations Act(Formula Grants) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $1,000,000,000.00; FY 24 est $0.00; - Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act(Formula Grants) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $0.00; FY 24 est $0.00; - REACH Average award to primary recipients in FY2022 is $18,241,267 for regular LIHEAP funding and $520,833 for IIJA Act funding. The estimated range in direct awards (depending on total funding) is approximately $1,939 to $376,125,234 for regular LIHEAP FY 2022 funding. For IIJA of FY2022 funding, the estimated range in direct awards is approximately $48 to $6,395,824. 45 CFR 96, Subpart H and 45 CFR 75 as applicable. Not applicable.