Pappas Joins Call for Increased Home Heating Assistance

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined 115 House members in requesting increased funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

“As you know, LIHEAP helps families who are at risk of being unable to afford to heat their homes in the winter or cool them in the summer. Last year, more than six million households across the country relied on critical assistance from the LIHEAP program,” the lawmakers wrote. “For the families who receive LIHEAP, it is a critical lifeline that prevents them from making the impossible choice between staying warm and having enough food or paying for their medications.”

New Hampshire was recently awarded a total of $27,690,278 in LIHEAP funding for this winter, including $26,926,592 in formula funding and an additional $763,686 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Despite the significant federal investment, LIHEAP continues to be underfunded, with just 20 percent of eligible households currently receiving assistance through the program.

To assist households seeking to determine their eligibility for LIHEAP funding, HHS recentlyreleased a tool in English, Spanish, traditional Chinese, and simplified Chinese for households to quickly determine their eligibility.

The letter can be viewed here.