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Low-Income Heating Assistance

Page history last edited by Robert Hackett 10 years, 3 months ago

Note: please note that this issue overview should (a) contain links to the issue briefs on this topic that are focused either the local, state, national, or global level, and (b) be neutrally presented, based on facts, and include footnotes for each of the items.  See the Research Guide and Information Sources to assist you. 

 

 

Goal Statement   one sentence that further defines the topic 


  • To provide assistance to low-income individuals and families in meeting their home heating expenses. 

 

 

Policy Options / Program Models   specific policies or program models, grouped by type, that are profiled 


  • Assistance in Paying Heating Bills
    1. Assistance in Paying Existing Account Balance for Heating Bills
      • Federal Government Programs

        • Residential Energy Assistance Challenge (REACH) Option Program

        • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP
      • State Government Programs
        •      CARES Program
      • Fuel Company Programs
    2. Arranging to Pay Heating Bills as a Percentage of Income
      • State Government Program
        •  CAP Program
      • Fuel Company Programs

 

              3. Allocating funds  to help families pay for current heating needs

 

 

Increase efficiency of LIHEAP Administration at the State Level

  • Waive the interview:  The need to interview every applicant creates an impossible workload for administrative staff which in turn passes hardship on to the already struggling applicant.  Cutting the interview from the application process will enable State agencies to process applications and distribute funds with a greater level of expediency.  Furthermore, an increase in the sophistication and efficiency of current information technologies would greatly aid the process.
  • Create a common database: Most applicants for LIHEAP are already receiving another form of federal or state aid, whether it be TANF, Food Stamps, Social Security Insurance, or state health insurance.  State agencies could conjoin all of the State’s HHS data bases into a single program.  By doing so, system administrators could know immediately whether a certain applicant was eligible for their program based on personal information provided to another program.
    • Massachusetts uses a program called Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), which is designed to track client data, including income, employment, and past assistance through various government programs.[1]Using such a system allows all government agencies to have instant access to vital information regarding an applicant’s past.  Not only would this alleviate the need for a face-to-face interview, but it would give the agency representative references as to an applicants’ possible eligibility for other forms of government assistance.  Such a system would cut down on administrative time, expedite the application process and assist needy individuals access the funds they are eligible for.
  • Expand the use of local agencies to assist in appropriating LIHEAP Funds:  If properly trained and certified by a central State agency, local churches, soup kitchens, clothing banks, shelters, schools, or town halls could act as stand in CAP agencies: accepting applications and distributing much needed funds.  Such a system would create three distinct benefits.  First, adding local agencies to the government apparatus thickens the safety net. Using local agencies would dramatically shorten the distance applicants would have to travel in order to utilize state services.  Expanding the number of agencies involved in the LIHEAP process would also alleviate the staffing crunch being felt by the CAPs, allowing all agencies to dedicate the appropriate amount of time to each application to ensure that the proper and efficient procedures are followed.
  • Make Homes More Energy Efficient
    1. Weatherization program to increase home heating efficiency: Invest in home weatherization.  If we invest in insulating homes properly, and provide adequate incentives for homeowners to take the initiative to invest in their own homes then all families, whatever their income, can enjoy savings for years to come. 

 

Local, State, National Information   issue briefs on this topic at the local, state, national, global level


 

Glossary of Terms   key words or phrases that the layperson needs to know to understand this issue 


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Footnotes

  1. "Homeless Management Information Systems." John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies: Center for Social Policy. http://www.mccormacktmp.umb.edu/csp/csp_hmis.jsp

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