Office of Community Services (OCS)

LIHWAP World Water Week FY2021

In observance of World Water Week, from August 23 - 27, 2021, the Office of Community Services (OCS) will host a series of events entitled, Building Resilience Faster: Partnering to Increase Availability, Affordability, and Access to Quality Water and Wastewater Services. Please join OCS daily, from 2-3:30pm (EDT), for a week of learning focused on water and wastewater needs across America. The events will address economic, racial, and geographic disparities that impact access to water and wastewater resources by low-income individuals and communities. Diverse panels of experts and advocates will discuss efforts on the local, state, and federal level to address disparities and increase access to water resources for all.

Click Here for the Event Schedule and Bios of the Panelists

LIHEAP’s 40th Anniversary

ACF celebrates the 40th anniversary of LIHEAP which Congress created on August 13, 1981! LIHEAP remains the largest federal home energy assistance program available to people in the United States. Administered by HHS/ACF/Office of Community Services (OCS), LIHEAP helps pay heating and cooling bills, get those services reconnected, and improve the energy efficiency of homes through weatherization.

Read About Our Celebration Activities

CED Highlight: Sherman Phoenix Project

The Community Economic Development Program (CED), administered by HHS/ACF/Office of Community Services (OCS), helps address the economic needs of low-income individuals and families by creating business development and employment opportunities. With CED funds, Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) supported the Sherman Phoenix Project, which created an entrepreneurial hub for small Black-owned businesses. Located in the Sherman Park neighborhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Sherman Phoenix project has provided commercial space for small entrepreneurs, offering prepared foods, wellness services, and arts and cultural activities!

Learn More about the Sherman Phoenix Project

CED Program Spoken Word Poem: Openings

The Community Economic Development (CED) program hosted its first ever virtual grantee conference on June 8 – 10th, 2021! The virtual conference was a successful event that featured exciting speakers, sessions, grantee submitted videos, and opportunities to virtually connect with grantees and program staff. The highlight of the conference was an inspirational spoken word poem written for and about CED grantees and their accomplishments in their communities, especially with all of the obstacles the grantees have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The spoken word poem was written and performed by the talented Hannah Hasan, from the Epoch Tribe storytelling platform.

Listen to the CED Spoken Word Poem: Openings Here

American Rescue Plan

The American Rescue Plan (ARP) invests more than $47.5 billion into seven critical and essential ACF programmatic areas, including utility assistance, which includes financial assistance with heating, cooling, and water bills.

Click Here To Learn More

Current and Future Heat Waves. How LIHEAP Can Help?

LIHEAP, given its block grant structure, gives each of you as grantees broad discretion and flexibility to make adjustments to your program now and throughout the rest of this summer to mitigate the risks of weather related events, including this and future heat waves. You may adjust your policies now, and if they involve significant changes, you may submit a revised 2021 LIHEAP Plan within a reasonable amount of time after implementing the policy change(s). You do not need our prior approval. You can make changes now.

Read the Full Details

The Office of Community Services (OCS) partners with states, communities and agencies to eliminate causes of poverty, increase self-sufficiency of individuals and families and revitalize communities.

Recent Resources

LIHEAP DCL-2021-09 Flex-Hurricane-Season FY2021
September 15, 2021
CSBG DCL-2021-28 CSBG CARES Spending Schedule
September 15, 2021
LIHEAP AT-2021-04 Carryover Reallotment FY2021
September 13, 2021

More Resources

Success Stories

AFI Case Study: Participant Rena Moran Goes From Homelessness to Minnesota State Representative

The Family Room Blog

This Labor Day, It’s Time to Fairly Compensate the Early Childhood Workforce

September 3, 2021