Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income Tennessee households pay heating and cooling bills to meet immediate energy needs and reduce risks from unsafe heating and cooling practices.
Funder: Tennessee Housing Development Agency
Due Dates: September 30, 2027 (Annual application deadline, pending available funding)
Funding Amounts: $174–$750 in one-time household assistance, depending on household energy burden
Summary: LIHEAP helps low-income Tennessee households pay heating and cooling costs through payments to utilities or energy suppliers.
Key Information: Household income must be at or below 60% of State Median Income.
Description
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally funded household assistance program administered in Tennessee by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA). Created by the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981, it helps households meet immediate home energy needs, prioritizing those spending a high proportion of their income on energy.
Tennessee delivers assistance through 19 local agencies serving all 95 counties. The program helps defray heating and cooling expenses and reduce health and safety risks associated with unsafe heating and cooling practices. Assistance is available while funding lasts, with payments made to the household’s utility company or energy supplier rather than directly to the applicant.
