Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides heating, crisis and weatherization assistance. States are given broad latitude under block grant funding to design and operate their own programs, under certain restrictions.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is seeking public comment on the Revised Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Block Grant Plan, which outlines how the federal LIHEAP block grant funds will be spent in North Carolina in federal fiscal year 2020-2021. The Administration of Children and Families allowed North Carolina a one-time option to revise the 2020 block grant plan for federal fiscal year 2020-2021.
The revisions include:
· Updated Federal Poverty Guidelines which are effective October 1, 2020
· Removing the requirement for Crisis Intervention Program applicants to have a disconnect notice
· Explanation of how the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funding will be spent
· Adding online Crisis Intervention Program and Low Income Energy Assistance Program application to ePASS effective January 1, 2021
· Adding the acceptance of telephonic signatures for Crisis Intervention Program and Low Income Energy Assistance Program applications
The plan may be viewed from August 20- 26, 2020 at the following locations:
· Online on the Division of Social Services website
· On all 100 Counties DSS websites
Comments will be accepted until 5 pm on Wednesday, August 26, 2020. Comments can be emailed to Jasmyne Simmons at Jasmyne.Simmons@dhhs.nc.gov