As the temperature continues to drop, residents are reminded of assistance available to keep their homes warm.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is a federal-funded program that is designed to help homeowners and renters at or below the poverty line pay a portion of their primary home heating costs through a one-time payment made directly to their utility or heating provider. The Hawkeye Area Community Action Program can help Washington County apply for this program. HACAP Communications Manager Chris Ackman comments on the local need for the program which began in 1980, “The biggest impact that we’ve seen is just how much it’s grown over the years. The need is certainly there, I don’t think the need is going away. So we’ve seen that need rise over the years. It’s a program that, specifically for community action agencies, that a lot of people apply for and a lot of people are looking to every year to help them. Especially in the Midwest, especially in Iowa, where it gets really cold in the winter time.”

The annual application period for the LIHEAP is open now through April of 2022. Provided on the heating assistance application is the option for enrollment in the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program. This program has the same income guidelines as LIHEAP. For contact information and application requirements, visit here.