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2026 - 2027 I PY27 NH Fuel Assistance Program (FAP) Procedures Manual 30 7. SHARED HOUSING AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS

Shared housing is a situation where two or more individuals reside in the same residence, but as separate households. These households may include individuals who are roomer/boarders, custodial caregivers, owners of rooming houses/divided residences, or persons receiving foster care payments for qualified individuals. The following descriptions provide guidance to the CAAs for evaluating the eligibility for an applicant in shared housing. All applications will first be based on the premise that a household consists of all individuals living within a residential unit. All other living situations will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Roommates

A roommate is defined for FAP purposes as an individual who shares a residential unit with another individual(s), equally sharing energy expenses and living together as one economic unit. A roommate differs from a roomer/boarder because roommates share in the cost of the rent and share rented living quarters, while a roomer/boarder does not share living quarters. Roommates may have their names on the lease or may be unofficially subletting.

All roommates within a residential unit will be considered to be household members. The income for all roommates within a household will be calculated to determine FAP eligibility and the amount of the benefit.

In a situation where one residential unit is occupied by two separate individuals residing in fully separate living quarters with each individual being responsible for their own documented heating expenses, a waiver will be granted to regard them as non-roommates and separate households. Proof must be provided to document the two separate heating systems within the one unit, showing the separate account numbers in the names of the individually responsible parties for the unit’s heating expenses.