Kamlager-Dove Announces Over $220 Million in Funding to Assist Low-Income Californians With Home Energy Costs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 24, 2023
Media Contact: Maya Valentine | maya.valentine@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) announced that California was awarded $226,816,279 in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Administered through the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Community Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this funding will help individuals and families with low incomes pay their home heating costs this winter and their cooling bills in the summer. LIHEAP can also be used to weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient and during disasters and extreme weather to mitigate energy emergencies.
This funding release is part of a $3.7 billion package that includes funds appropriated by Congress from the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024, as well as $100 million appropriated for FY 2024 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“I am proud to celebrate this massive investment for California’s families. Over 150,000 households in California that rely on LIHEAP to help with their home energy bills will be able to benefit from this important new funding,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “Everyone deserves the dignity of a warm and safe home to rest their head at night, and LIHEAP is essential in ensuring children, seniors, and other vulnerable groups are able to get the assistance they need. As extreme weather continues to worsen, LIHEAP is also critical in preventing energy shutoffs that would endanger the lives of Californians, and I thank the Biden Administration for their investment in this program. While Republicans work to slash LIHEAP funding across the country, I will continue to safeguard this critical funding for low-income families.”
Maintaining safe indoor air temperatures is critical, particularly for households that include older adults, individuals with disabilities, and young children. By helping to reduce the costs of home heating and cooling bills, reconnecting energy services that have been disconnected, preventing energy shutoffs, and providing minor energy-related home repairs, LIHEAP helps make sure that our neighbors can meet their home energy needs and stay safe in their homes.
Individuals interested in applying for LIHEAP can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at 1-866-674-6327.
Not sure whether you qualify? Households can easily identify if they may be eligible for assistance by using the LIHEAP Eligibility Tool on energyhelp.us.
In addition to releasing the funding, ACF’s Office of Community Services (OCS) has updated their LIHEAP heating season toolkit to help grant recipients and stakeholders effectively reach households in need of assistance. To access the toolkit’s outreach materials including flyers, social media templates, and animated videos, visit the OCS Website.
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