LIHEAP DCL Status of Funding FY 2012

Date:  October 13, 2011

 
Dear Colleagues:

With federal fiscal year (FY) 2012 upon us, we currently are operating under a continuing resolution (CR), a temporary funding measure that is in effect until November 18. Very limited funding is available to federal programs under a CR.

We fully understand that this is a critical time for state and tribal grantees in the administration of the LIHEAP program, what with winter heating programs already opened, or opening soon, and with the need of low income households so great at this time of year. Please know that we are working judiciously with HHS and OMB to ensure that adequate funding becomes available in the first quarter. At this point, we cannot provide you with any information on the level of funding or the timing of when awards will be issued under the CR, but we fully expect that we will know more soon and that allocations under the CR will be issued by the end of October.

We know that the House and Senate have each proposed respective appropriation levels for the FY 2012 LIHEAP program. Though the levels projected are close in the overall dollars, the method for how the funds would be allocated to states is very different under each of the proposals. The House and Senate recommendations, coupled with the President’s request for FY 2012, require careful consideration before first quarter LIHEAP awards are made.

We appreciate your patience and please know that we will inform grantees as soon as we learn more about LIHEAP allocations under the current CR.

Sincerely,

Jeannie L. Chaffin, Director of the Office of Community Services  

Nick St. Angelo, Director of the Division of Energy Assistance