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Tennessee Housing Development Agency 2025 LIHEAP Policy Manual for Regular and Crisis Assistance 34
• Heating Assistance is applied from October through May. • Cooling Assistance is applied from June through September. When funds are unavailable to serve all households, applicants will remain on a waitlist until September 30th or until additional funding is available.
2-21 Natural Disasters and Emergencies Natural disasters and emergencies may impact the delivery and administration of the LIHEAP program. Both at the state and local levels, the program must be able to adjust and respond to catastrophic events. Proactive planning is essential to ensure the needs of affected households and local agencies are met. The Housing Program Manager - Energy will guide subgrantees in the use of LIHEAP resources during a natural disaster or emergency. The Housing Program Manager - Energy will follow state and federal disaster declarations, including the designation of affected geographic areas. Subgrantees must follow all directives from the state, including coordination with other agencies providing disaster relief or emergency assistance. State LIHEAP Disaster or Emergency Waiver In the event of a natural disaster or emergency, the Housing Program Manager - Energy has the authority to temporarily modify or waive any state LIHEAP procedures to mitigate hardship and protect health and safety. The Housing Program Manager - Energy may modify the Tennessee State Model Plan for LIHEAP and notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Disaster and Emergency Notification Requirements Subgrantees must notify the Housing Energy Program Manager of any natural disaster or emergency in their jurisdiction that interferes with their ability to operate the program. Allowable Uses of Disaster Funds After a federal or state declared natural disaster, LIHEAP funds may be used to meet the energy-related needs of eligible low-income households. The following items have been deemed allowable by the Department of Health and Human Services for use during a natural disaster: