New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez announced today that the state was awarded $121,712,800.00 in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ahead of the winter season.
LIHEAP helps low-income households pay home heating and cooling bills, prevent energy shutoffs, restore services, make minor energy-related home repairs, and weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient.
This funding release includes funds appropriated by Congress in the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024, as well as $100 million appropriated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“All across New Jersey, residents and families rely on LIHEAP’s critical protections to stay safe and healthy in their homes throughout the seasons,” Menendez said in a statement.
“This funding will help ensure that families and individuals have the support they need to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.”
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 cooling bills in the summer.
As reported here earlier, the LIHEAP application period began on October 1st and will run through June 30th of next year. To be eligible for LIHEAP benefits, the applicant households must be responsible for home heating or cooling costs, either directly or included in the rent, and have a gross income at or below 60% of the state’s median income.
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. Households can identify if they may be eligible for assistance by using the LIHEAP Eligibility Tool on energyhelp.us.