Hawaiʻi was awarded over $7.4 million in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The funding will help low-income individuals and families reduce their home energy costs.

LIHEAP can be used to pay home heating costs; reconnect energy services that have been disconnected; provide minor energy-related home repairs; weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient; and mitigate energy emergencies during disasters and extreme weather. The grant, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, includes $100 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Additionally, the Office of Community Services (OCS)—a department within HHS—launched its LIHEAP Eligibility Tool which allows households across the country to quickly identify whether they are eligible for LIHEAP assistance by inputting basic information, such as income and household size.

Those interested in applying for energy assistance can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at 1-866-674-6327.

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