What You Need To Know
The Oregon Housing and Community Service is responsible for providing help to households with low income through their Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). People coming from underprivileged backgrounds who cannot pay their household energy costs are eligible to apply for the program. The United States federal government funds the Oregon LIHEAP program through its Department of Health and Human Services.
What are the program goals?
The goal of the Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is to improve the living conditions of poor households in the state of Oregon. The households have to fulfill certain criteria to be able to receive the program benefits. Other than that, the Oregon LIHEAP also provides education regarding efficient energy utilization to the selected families. The eligible households are located through the local Community Action Agencies that are present in different counties with the state of Oregon.
What services does the program provide?
The services provided to low-income households through the Oregon LIHEAP are,
- Utility bill payments
- Energy crisis grants
- Energy-related home repair assistance
- Weatherproofing of the house
- Assistance at times of emergency energy need
Are You Eligible?
To be able to qualify for the Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) the applicant needs to be a,
- Permanent citizen or legal alien of US
- A permanent and legal resident of the state of Oregon
- The applicant must need assistance in paying their utility bills
- The income level of the applicant must be equal to the income guidelines accepted by the federal government which says that the income level of an applicant should be below 60% of the median income level of the state.
If a candidate does not fulfill the criteria set by the Oregon LIHEAP then they will not receive the benefits of the program. Other important factors on which the eligibility of an applicant is assessed include,
- The candidate’s annual gross income
- The number of members in a household
The table below provides a detailed understanding of the household size and the maximum gross income which should be either equal or less than,
| Total Household Size | Gross Income Level (Per Year) |
| 1 | 24550 |
| 2 | 32103 |
| 3 | 39657 |
| 4 | 47210 |
| 5 | 54764 |
| 6 | 62317 |
| 7 | 63734 |
| 8 | 65150 |
If there are more than eight members in the house than an extra amount of $1416 is added for each additional member. It is also important to check with the local agencies who manage the program to get your hands on the most current information and guidelines regarding the Oregon LIHEAP.
You can also visit the Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) official website to check whether you are eligible for the program. The procedure is simple and you need to answer some questions like
- The citizenship status of the applicant
- Total gross income of the household
- Total members in the family
- Whether or not you are receiving any other kind of assistance from the state
You will be automatically considered for the LIHEAP benefits if you or any other member in your family are receiving other benefit programs like
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Any other benefits if you are a Veteran
How To Apply?
To apply in person for the Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program kindly visit the nearby Community Action Agency (CAA) office in your county. You will be provided with an application form that you can fill out and submit through an agent working in the office. It is important to note that before going to your local county office you should have copies of all the required documents to make sure your application is complete.
The applicant can also request an application form for the Oregon LIHEAP program by calling the Oregon Housing and Community Service at 1-800-453-5511. The number is tool-free and you can call anytime during the working hours.
For Further Information
You can also visit the Oregon LIHEAP page to learn more about the program. Here you will find recent and most up-to-date information about the program. You can also find out about the program eligibility criteria, the application process, required documents and any other information about the program.
The above-mentioned website will help you learn more about the program and its requirements related to the application process and eligibility criteria. This makes it easy for the applicant to apply for the Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
It is also important to keep in mind the deadline for Oregon Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) so that your household is not deprived of the benefits provided by the program.