Request for Recommendations on How LIHEAP Can Be Used More Effectively To Prevent
Loss of Life From Extreme Temperatures
THIS CONTAINS INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES IN LIHEAP ACTION TRANSMITTAL NO. LIHEAP-AT-2006-2, DATED 3/28/06
TO: LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)
STATE GRANTEES
SUBJECT: Request for Recommendations on How LIHEAP Can
Be Used More Effectively To Prevent Loss of Life
From Extreme Temperatures
RELATED Section 2610(b) of the Low Income Home Energy
REFERENCES: Assistance Act, Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35, as
amended; Sec. 1804 of the Energy Policy Act of
2005, Public Law (P.L.) 109-58
PURPOSE: The purpose of this transmittal is to request
recommendations from State LIHEAP grantees about
how LIHEAP can be used more effectively to prevent
loss of life from extreme temperatures.
BACKGROUND: The LIHEAP statute identifies households with very
young children, individuals with disabilities, or
frail older individuals as "vulnerable" households.
The concern is that such households are vulnerable:
o To serious health risks if they do not have
adequate heating or cooling in their homes. Health
risks can include death from hypothermia or
hyperthermia and increased susceptibility to other
health conditions such as stroke and heart attacks.
o To safety risks in trying to heat or cool their
home if they cannot pay their heating or cooling
fuel bills. Safety risks can include use of
makeshift heating sources or inoperative/faulty
heating or cooling equipment that can lead to
indoor fires or asphyxiation.
With regards to such risks:
o A number of State LIHEAP agencies already make
health and safety an element of their LIHEAP
outreach activities.
o Beginning in Fiscal Year 2004, the Office of
Community Services has implemented a Federal
outreach campaign to make elderly households
aware of hypothermia and hyperthermia and how
LIHEAP can assist such households.
o The National Energy Assistance Directors'
Association (NEADA) has documented a number of
health issues faced by LIHEAP recipient households
in NEADA's 2005 National Energy Assistance Survey.
NEADA also is involved in developing public health
information and outreach programs on home energy-
related risks.
o At the upcoming National Low Income Energy
Consortium's annual conference, there will be a
session on June 14, 2006 that will explore the
integration of public health/safety and energy
assistance concerns about vulnerable households.
CONTENT: The public health aspects of LIHEAP also have been
underscored in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L.
109-58), which President Bush signed on August 8,
2005. In particular, Section 1804 of the Act
states:
Not later than 1 year after the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Health and Human Services shall transmit
to Congress a report how the Low-Income
Home Energy Assistance Program could be
used more effectively to prevent loss of
life from extreme temperatures. In
preparing such report, the Secretary
shall consult with appropriate officials
in all 50 States and the District of
Columbia.
Keeping in mind that LIHEAP can only deal with
extreme indoor temperatures, we are requesting
your State's recommendations in preparing the
Congressional report. In particular, we encourage
the following:
o State LIHEAP offices can solicit the views of
appropriate agencies, such as your State Health
Department, and present those views with the
agency's views of how LIHEAP could be used more
effectively to prevent loss of life from extreme
temperatures.
o State LIHEAP offices can provide examples of the
use of Federal and nonfederal energy assistance
resources that effectively prevent loss of life
from extreme temperatures.
Please submit your written recommendations/best
practices to Peter Edelman in our office by April
28, 2006. Your timely submission is needed as we
will submit the report to Congress by this August.
INQUIRIES TO: Peter Edelman, Program Analyst
Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447
Telephone: (202) 401-5292
Fax: (202) 401-5661
E-mail: pedelman@acf.hhs.gov
_____________/s_____________
Josephine B. Robinson
Director
Office of Community Services
