WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) is announcing nearly $177 million for Illinois under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to provide financial assistance to families to lower their home energy costs.
“I know prices are sky-high and families are still struggling to afford essential goods and services,” said Sorensen. “That’s why I’m proud to have voted for critical funding coming to Central and Northwestern Illinois to help families meet rising energy costs and stay protected during the coming winter months.”
Administered through the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Community Services at the Department of Health and Human Services, this funding will help individuals and families with low incomes pay their home heating costs this winter, and with cooling bills in the summer. LIHEAP can also be used to weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient, and during disasters and extreme weather to mitigate energy emergencies.
Supplemental funding for Illinois under LIHEAP comes partially from the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2024, which Congressman Sorensen voted for in September. Additional funding for LIHEAP was appropriated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was signed into law in November of 2021.
Illinois families interested in applying for LIHEAP to lower their home energy costs can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at: 1-866-674-6327.
Households can easily identify if they may be eligible for assistance by using the LIHEAP Eligibility Tool on energyhelp.us.