As the government shutdown continues, nonprofit organizations that provide energy assistance face uncertainty. The Low Income Home Emergency Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, helps qualifying households pay their heating bills.
The Community Action Agency of Siouxland normally starts to receive applications for LIHEAP on November 1st.
Jean Logan, Executive Director of Community Action Agency of Siouxland, told Siouxland Public Media that the program’s “funding formula” is to be determined and hasn’t happened because of the shutdown.
Logan also said during this time they begin to take applications for the program and determine whether or not people will be eligible for when Congress authorizes the funds for the program.
She said that Iowa’s Department of Health and Human Services has allowed the Action Agency to use carryover funding to continue the program and take applications for LIHEAP.
Applications for LIHEAP are a first-come, first-served basis.
