CSBG-DCL-2022-08 LIHEAP and ERA Winter Month Energy Assistance Resources FY 2022

Community Services Block Grant

Dear Colleague Letter

DCL#: CSBG-DCL-2022-08

DATE: November 18, 2021

TO: CSBG States, Territories, and Tribes

SUBJECT: LIHEAP and ERA Winter Month Energy Assistance Resources

ATTACHMENT(S): LIHEAP-IM-2022-01 LIHEAP Coordination with ERA During Winter FY 2022

Dear Colleagues,

PURPOSE

The purpose of this message is to encourage Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) recipients to consider the information, resources, and promising practices identified for coordination between the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Emergency Rental Assistance program (ERA). The Office of Community Services (OCS), Division of Community Assistance (DCA) encourages CSBG recipients to apply these best practices across programs to effectively serve households.

BACKGROUND

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided historic resources to help states and localities protect families from the impact of rising energy costs and prevent winter utility shutoffs. These resources included $4.5 billion in energy assistance to homeowners and renters through LIHEAP, over $21 billion in ERA, and nearly $10 billion in the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF). These funds are available to help states, territories, Tribes and Tribal Organizations, and communities provide home energy assistance to households this winter.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Family (ACF) and the U.S. Treasury consulted to develop guidance to support grantees in: (1) preparing for the likelihood of a significant increase in need for energy assistance over the coming winter months, (2) implementing historic levels of funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act to respond to the energy price increases in your state and communities, and (3) adopting model policy and program options in order to coordinate available federal grant resources to effectively meet the needs of low income households. For more information, please see LIHEAP-IM-2022-01, LIHEAP Coordination with ERA During Winter FY 2022 (also attached).

LEVERAGING CSBG TO COMPREHENSIVELY MEET HOUSEHOLD NEEDS

OCS encourages CSBG recipients to review the guidance issues by HHS and the U.S. Treasury to determine how the best practices and resources can be leveraged in their approach to provide comprehensive services for households. Eligible households can receive CSBG, LIHEAP, and ERA benefits (i.e., receiving benefits from LIHEAP and/or ERA does not preclude a household from receiving benefits from CSBG). Braiding resources is a promising strategy to ensure that eligible families, individuals, and households receive the maximum benefit available to them. Notwithstanding resource constraints, grant recipients should consider coordinating efforts to increase benefit assistance across programs.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE

On August 9, DCA issued CSBG-DCL-2021-22, LIHWAP Coordination FY 2021, which provides guidance detailing the flexibility of CSBG and CSBG CARES funds as a local resource to support low-income households in coordination with LIHWAP and LIHEAP. These activities include:

• Addressing Outstanding Household Water Needs
• Small-scale Plumbing Repairs
• Other CSBG Household Supports

OCS acknowledges that while many of the resources and best practices identified in the LIHEAP-IM-2022-01 guidance may be applicable to CSBG, not all the information is transferrable. OCS encourages CSBG recipients to review CSBG-DCL-2021-22, LIHWAP Coordination FY2021.

In the upcoming months, DCA will provide additional information about promising practices and offer training and technical assistance to support coordination efforts between CSBG, LIHEAP, LIHWAP, ERA, and other federal programs to address the comprehensive utility needs of eligible households.

Thank you for your attention to these matters. OCS looks forward to continuing to provide high-quality services to OCS grantees.