The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance, has awarded NCAT a training and technical assistance contract to continue operating the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Clearinghouse. NCAT has operated the Clearinghouse for HHS since 1988 through successive competitive grants or contracts. The new contract is for one year with two option years.
The Clearinghouse provides information and technical assistance through a dedicated telephone number, Internet website, email address, newsletter and other written correspondence as needed on the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and other low-income energy programs to LIHEAP grantees, their subcontractors and subgrantees, including OCS grantees, such as community action agencies, and other interested parties.
The Clearinghouse collects, organizes and disseminates information on the LIHEAP program and other energy assistance program operations, including programs funded by utility ratepayers, private, charitable and faith-based entities, and state and local governments. Through the Clearinghouse's resources on low-income energy program eligibility criteria, benefit levels, funding, history, administration and other key characteristics, users ranging from local provider agencies to legislative staff can find the information they need to develop new programs and enhance existing ones.
Clearinghouse information resources are available to a wide range of users including state and tribal LIHEAP grantees and subgrantees, utility low-income energy program directors, utility regulatory commissions, state and federal legislators, low-income energy advocacy and policy groups (national, regional, and state), researchers and media.
The Clearinghouse will also continue to provide a National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) project, an energy assistance referral service for members of the general public who are interested in applying for LIHEAP assistance. Through a toll-free telephone number, email and a website, NEAR provides referrals on where to apply for LIHEAP across the country.
For answers to questions about LIHEAP administrative and programmatic variations, contact Clearinghouse Project Director Kay Joslin at 406-494-8662, kayj@ncat.org, or Project Specialist Sherry Vogel at 406-494-8670, sherryv@ncat.org, or access the project website at: www.liheap.ncat.org. The Clearinghouse welcomes updated program information from its users, as well as suggestions on how to improve its information services.
The NEAR website is accessible at: www.energynear.org
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