OCS DCL-2022-17 Mitigate Heat Stress for Vulnerable Households FY2022

Publication Date: August 12, 2022
Current as of:

Office of Community Services

Dear Colleague Letter

DCL#:                                OCS-DCL-2022-17

DATE:                                August 12, 2022

TO:                                    OCS Grant Recipients, Partners, and Stakeholders

SUBJECT:                         10 Ways OCS is Working to Mitigate Heat Stress for Vulnerable Households

ATTACHMENT(S):          N/A

Dear Colleagues,

The threat of extreme weather is disproportionately felt by communities of color, lower-income households, and vulnerable populations as they are more likely to live in “urban heat islands ” and are often unable to afford adequate air conditioning. As we grapple with a summer with above-normal temperatures in most of the country, it is imperative to understand not only the impact of heat stress on the individuals, families, and communities we serve, but how grant recipients can utilize OCS programs and flexibilities to mitigate the impact of extreme weather and heat stress on vulnerable populations.

As part of our ongoing work to promote environmental justice and mitigate the impact of extreme temperatures, OCS has taken the following 10 steps to raise awareness about and address heat stress this year:

  1. Established the Heat Stress Landing Page as a central hub for all OCS heat stress guidance, resources, and tools. Please note: this landing page was recently updated with the new resources below.  
  2. Issued updated Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) guidance on heat stress flexibilities and resources
  3. Released new Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) guidance that details how grant recipients and Community Action Agencies (CAAs) can leverage the flexibility of CSBG funding to support a multitude of activities to mitigate heat stress
  4. Published a LIHEAP Animated Cooling Video in English , Spanish , and Mandarin to inform potential LIHEAP beneficiaries about the ways that LIHEAP can assist with home energy bills amidst extreme heat
  5. Relaunched www.energyhelp.us with improvements in design, content, and overall accessibility to ensure that families in need of LIHEAP services can find help quickly and easily. 
  6. Created OCS Grant Recipient Spotlights to demonstrate how OCS grant recipients are using program flexibilities to address heat stress for vulnerable individuals and families
    1. CSBG Disaster Relief in Oregon - Wildfire and Heat Domes
    2. LIHEAP Cooling Assistance: A Washington State Spotlight
  7. Released the Heat Stress Geographic Information System (GIS) Dashboard in both English and Spanish, which can also be automatically translated into 108 other languages.
  8. Created a one-pager highlighting how LIHEAP grant recipients  (PDF)are using American Rescue Plan funds to keep families safe and cool in their homes this summer
  9. Published a Heat Stress Blog authored by ACF Assistant Secretary January Contreras about the impacts of extreme heat and the importance of affordable utilities.
  10. Hosted two heat stress webinars including an Expert Panel on the Impacts of Heat Stress and a LIHEAP Grant Recipient Heat Stress Panel Discussion .

To read more about the ways in which OCS is working to alleviate the consequences of extreme heat in our communities, visit our Heat Stress Landing Page and follow us on Twitter @OCS_ACFgov .

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

 

/s/
Dr. Lanikque Howard
Director
Office of Community Services