Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

What is LIHEAP?

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded grant program created by the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981. The program aims to assist low income households, primarily those who pay a high proportion of household income on home energy, in meeting their immediate energy needs. In Tennessee LIHEAP is administered through a network of 19 local agencies that reach all 95 counties. LIHEAP is a one-time assistance offered to help defray heating and cooling expenses, as long as funding is available.

Application Process

Applicants must meet income eligibility. Income eligible households are those at or below 60% of the State Median Income. See our chart of household income limits to see if you are eligible.

The application, along with all necessary verifications, must be submitted through the designated LIHEAP agency in the applicant's county of residence.

For more information or further assistance with the application process, please contact your local LIHEAP agency. Click here for a list of agencies and counties they serve. You may also use the locator map by clicking the blue button at the bottom of the page.

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



Low Income Home Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) Announcement and Public Input Request

Draft Model Plan the Low Income Home Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS) recently announced the State allocations of the newly created Low Income Home Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). LIHWAP has been appropriated by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law No:116-260) and the American Rescue Plan of 2021.

LIHWAP as stated by OCS, “provides funds to assist low-income households with water and wastewater bills. LIHWAP grants are available to States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, and Federally and state-recognized Indian Tribes and tribal organizations that received fiscal year 2021 Low Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grants.”

The LIHWAP Statutory information can be found at this link:

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/law-regulation/lihwap-laws-and-regulations

The Tennessee LIHWAP allocation under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 is $14,473,948.00 and the allocation under the American Rescue Plan of 2021 is $11,343,219.00. Bringing the total Tennessee LIHWAP allocation to $25,817,167.00.

THDA has been appointed as the state agency that will administer LIHWAP. As stated in the Federal Regulations, LIHWAP should be aligned with LIHEAP as much as possible. THDA plans to award the LIHWAP funds to the same subgrantees that currently operate LIHEAP. THDA will utilize the same award formula (based on statewide poverty levels) that is used in LIHEAP in order to allocate funds to the local subgrantees.

Please review the draft Plan and public input by emailing LIHEAP@thda.org prior to 12:00pm (CST) on August 9, 2021.

All Public comments and input must be sent via email to LIHEAP@thda.org