Low-Income Households Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

What is LIHWAP?

*Please note that the LIHWAP program has ended as of March 30, 2024 and THDA is no longer accepting applications*

Funding is no longer available for LIHWAP. Households cannot receive LIHWAP benefits at this time.

Please visit Benefits.gov to find out about other government benefit programs for which you may be eligible, and energyhelp.us to see if you are eligible for energy assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

We encourage you to seek assistance using these resources that may have information on water and wastewater assistance and other essential resources:

• Community Action Agencies (CAA): CAAs are local government and nonprofit organizations that administer social service programs across the country. You can find contact information for your local agency at this link: communityactionpartnership.com/find-a-cap 
• United Way: Additional programs that may be available to assist you can be found by dialing the United Way at 2-1-1 or visiting www.unitedway.org This resource is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Benefits.gov: Visit www.benefits.gov to find out about other government benefit programs for which you might be eligible.
• Please refer to our Water Assistance Resources (PDF) guide for information on how you can ask about water bill assistance in your local area.
• Please refer to our Water Assistance Resources (PDF) guide for information on where you can find help with your water well or septic system.
• Energy assistance: Energy assistance may be available to you through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). To find out more, visit energyhelp.us

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a federally funded grant program created by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law No: 116-260) and the American Rescue Plan of 2021. The program aims to assist low-income households with water and wastewater bills.

Tennessee Housing Development Agency received over $25 million to administer LIHWAP across the state. In Tennessee, the LIHWAP is administered through a network of 19 local agencies that reach all 95 counties.

The purpose of the LIHWAP funds is to restore or prevent disconnections of water services to eligible households, by providing funds directly to the utility company, operators of public water systems or treatment works, to bring the household’s account current and help reduce the water and wastewater burden by assisting with current bills. LIHWAP is a one-time assistance that serves three priority groups:

THDA LIHWAP provides relief assistance to three priority groups:

• Households with pending disconnections or disconnected water services and/or wastewater services, or
• Households with a past due bill for water services and/or wastewater services, or
• Households who are at risk of falling behind on their water services and/or wastewater services

LIHWAP assistance does not go directly to the client or applicant; rather direct payments are made through the LIWEAP agency to the local utility company or energy supplier.