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DEO LIHEAP Policies and Procedures Manual Page 4

100 -- Introduction and Program Information .01 Program Purpose The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is authorized by Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (OBRA), Public Law 97-35, as amended. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) administers LIHEAP at the federal level. Each year, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) drafts and submits its annual Model State Plan to the HHS, where the program’s parameters are set out for review and approval. The Human Services Amendments of 1994 (Public Law 103-353) reauthorized LIHEAP through FY1999. In 2004 the Senate passed the Poverty Prevention and Reduction Act, reauthorizing LIHEAP through 2010. The House is also working toward reauthorization. As part of the original reauthorization, Congress amended the purpose of LIHEAP to clarify that LIHEAP is "to assist low income households, particularly those with the lowest income, that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs." The LIHEAP program provides heating/cooling bill assistance in the form of either a LIHEAP Home Energy Benefit or a LIHEAP Crisis Benefit. A LIHEAP payment is made to the energy vendor or landlord (if utilities are included in the rent) on behalf of eligible households that meet income and residency criteria. LIHEAP Home Energy Benefit payment amounts are determined based on: household income and size, does not require a shut-off or eviction notice, and may be used for pre-paid energy accounts. To qualify for a LIHEAP Crisis benefit, an applicant must have a documented Home Energy Crisis. (See definition of Home Energy Crisis definition in Section 200, Definitions). LIHEAP funds are also available for Weather-Related/Supply Shortage Crisis events. This assistance helps eligible households resolve or mitigate a home energy crisis caused by an emergency declared by DEO, the Governor or the President. Each Subrecipient must budget a two percent (2%) hold-back each year for Weather- Related/Supply Shortages. In the event that no crisis is declared, DEO will release the hold back funds for use in other Direct Client Assistance categories. LIHEAP funds are available on a statewide basis to benefit eligible households. Applications are taken by local subrecipients that are currently contracted by the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), Division of Community Development. Local subrecipients are responsible for gathering documentation to verify eligibility. .02 Purpose of This Manual The purpose of this manual is to provide information and procedures needed to administer LIHEAP in Florida. The policies and procedures in this manual relate only to services/benefits funded by LIHEAP. All terms defined in Section 200, Definitions, will begin with a capital letter, i.e., Subrecipient, Home Energy Crisis, etc.