U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides assistance to low-income households in meeting the costs of heating and cooling their homes. Alabama will receive $26,306,705 for the first quarter in 2010. Unpaid utility bills are a frequently cited factor by households at risk of homelessness. This week HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the release of more than $2.6 billion in LIHEAP funding to states to help low income citizens with their heating bills during October, November and December of this year. HHS is releasing such a large allocation of LIHEAP funds now in order to ensure that states have resources available to support their energy assistance programs as the weather turns colder.

To learn more about LIHEAP and how to apply for assistance, visit the HHS Administration for Children and Families LIHEAP web page at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/brochure/brochure.html.

Low income households whose unpaid utility bills put them at immediate risk of homelessness may be able to receive assistance through the $1.5 billion distributed to states and communities under HUD's Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP). The Recovery Act also included $5 billion to expand the Department of Energy's state administered Weatherization program. The Recovery Act increased the Weatherization program income eligibility ceiling to 200% of poverty level and the average funding assistance per dwelling unit to $6500. Go to http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/apply.cfm to learn more about applying.