Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) has been designated by the Legislature to administer the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The program provides assistance to low income households for their energy bills. The federal Department of Health and Human Services oversees LIHEAP. In Maine, the funds are used primarily to help pay winter home heating bills for those who qualify. MSHA contracts with Maine’s Community Action Agencies to administer the program on the local level.

The program has three components: Fuel Assistance, Emergency Crisis Intervention, and Weatherization.

Goals:

Provide funds to help pay heating costs for low/very low income Maine residents.

Overview:

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (commonly called LIHEAP or HEAP) provides money to low income homeowners and renters to help pay heating costs. The funds are distributed throughout Maine by 11 Community Action Programs, in most cases directly to the fuel vendors. The program is not intended to pay for all heating costs, but to assist in paying the heating bills. The average benefit in Maine in 2003-2004 was about $441, and the program served about 47,000 households.

Applying:

LIHEAP is targeted to low and very low income Maine homeowners and renters. Persons interested in applying for LIHEAP assistance should apply at the nearest Community Action Program office.

Community Action Program Agency:

Community Action Program Agency Telephone #

Aroostook County Action Program, Presque Isle 764-3721
Coastal Economic Development Corp., Bath 442-7963
Community Concepts, Inc., South Paris 743-7716
Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, Waterville 873-2122
Coastal Community Action Program, Rockland 596-0361
Penquis Community Action Program, Bangor 973-3500
Peoples Regional Opportunity Program, Portland 874-1140
Waldo County Committee for Social Action, Belfast 338-6809
Washington-Hancock Community Agency, Ellsworth 546-7544
Western Maine Community Action, Inc., East Wilton 645-3764
York County Community Action Corp., Sanford 324-5762

 

Guidelines:


LIHEAP and Weatherization Poverty Guidelines
2005-2006

 

Must be
Hypothermia-Vulnerable

 

 

75%

125%

150%

170%

FAMILY
  SIZE

1
mo.

3
mos.

12
mos.

1
mo.

3
mos.

12
mos.

1
mo.

3
mos.

12
mos.

1
mo.

3
mos.

12
mos.

1

598

1,794

7,178

997

2,991

11,963

1,196

3,589

14,355

1,356

4,067

16,269

2

802

2,406

9,623

1,336

4,009

16,038

1,604

4,811

19,245

1,818

5,453

21,811

3

1,006

3,017

12,068

1,676

5,028

20,113

2,011

6,034

24,135

2,279

6,838

27,353

4

1,209

3,628

14,513

2,016

6,047

24,188

2,419

7,256

29,025

2,741

8,224

32,895

5

1,413

4,239

16,958

2,355

7,066

28,263

2,826

8,479

33,915

3,203

9,609

38,437

6

1,617

4,851

19,403

2,695

8,084

32,338

3,234

9,701

38,805

3,665

10,995

43,979

7

1,821

5,462

21,848

3,034

9,103

36,413

3,641

10,924

43,695

4,127

12,380

49,521

8

2,024

6,073

24,293

3,374

10,122

40,488

4,049

12,146

48,585

4,589

13,766

55,063


FOR EACH ADDITIONAL FAMILY MEMBER ADD:

 

204

611

2,445

340

1,019

4,075

408

1,223

4,890

462

1,386

5,542

ALL NUMBERS ARE DERIVATIVES OF 100% OF POVERTY FOR TWELVE (12) MONTHS. For households with 8 or more persons, HHS 100% Poverty level adds $3,260 for each additional member.