Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - Approved

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally-funded program to help low-income households pay their energy bills. Spectrum Community Services also offers the Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program and the East Bay Community Energy Programs. All programs aim to assist eligible families with financial energy bills. Assistance is in the form of a direct payment to the utility company on behalf of an eligible applicant.
• • Owner
    Shola Shodiya-Zeumault
  • Created On
    06-30-2016
  • Updated On
    12-28-2023
  • Update Reminder
    12-01-2024

• How To Contact

  • Name
    n/a
  • Phone
    (510) 881-0300 x
  • Fax
    (510) 537-3340
  • Email
    none@none.find
  • Address
    PO Box 4317
  • City
    Hayward
  • State
    CA

• More Information

  • Start Date
    12-14-2021
  • Expiration Date
    12-30-2024
  • Eligibility
    free
  • Fee
    0.00
  • Organization
    Spectrum Community Services
  • Zip Code
    94540

• Helpful Links

  • Main Program URL
    https://www.spectrumcs.org/energy-services/liheap
  • Apply Online
    https://www.spectrumcs.org/energy-services/energy-services-materials
  • Additional Resources
    https://spectrumcs.org/energy-services/resources
  • English HEAP Application Packet
    https://www.spectrumcs.org/images/pdfs/energy/LIHEAPEngApp2024.pdf
  • Utility Assistance Application Materials
    https://www.spectrumcs.org/energy-services/energy-services-materials

• Detailed Information

  • Apply for LIHEAP:
    Online at CALIHEAPApply.com, or call 510-881-0300 to request an application be sent to you by mail. Submit a paper application to: 

    Spectrum Community Services, PO Box 4317, Hayward, CA 94540

    What is LIHEAP?

    LIHEAP is a federally-funded program to help households experiencing low income pay their energy bills.

    How does LIHEAP help me?

    Assistance is in the form of a direct payment from the State of California to an eligible applicant's electricity and/or natural gas utility provider.

    Am I eligible for LIHEAP?

    Eligibility is based on the applicant household’s total gross monthly income, which cannot exceed the LIHEAP Gross Income Guidelines. SEE WEBSITE FOR INCOME GUIDELINES.
    Federal LIHEAP funds are for households with low incomes and high energy costs, prioritizing households with seniors 60+, persons with disabilities, and/or children five and under.

    SPECIAL NOTICE- Effective 10/9/23

    Due to limited funding and a high demand for LIHEAP, a priority plan has been implemented to serve those in most critical need. We encourage you to apply, but cannot guarantee assistance even if you meet the income eligibility guidelines.

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
    

    If you receive a discontinuation notice or your service has been shut off, please continue to make payment arrangements with your utility company to prevent disruption to your service. Click here for additional resources.

    With the lifting of the pandemic emergency, Spectrum Community Services has received an overwhelming number of applications for utility assistance benefits and is unable to provide assistance to all who have applied. At the beginning of this year, energy companies (PG&E and Alameda Municipal Power) lifted moratoriums on power shut-offs that had been in place during the pandemic. This led to an unprecedented influx of utility assistance applications. Also, COVID-relief funding from Congress has expired and will not be renewed. This means we have millions of dollars less to assist households with utility payments in Alameda County. Before the pandemic $3.5 million dollars were paid out in utility assistance across the county; in just the first six months of 2023, that number has already been surpassed. In this same time period, we received 14% more applications than the 7,342 we received during all of 2022. 

    The well-established, decades-old, federally-funded LIHEAP program, while not in jeopardy of being cut, has nation-wide only been able to assist 16% of eligible households with basic energy assistance. 

    Due to the increase in demand and influx of phone calls, we are not able to return calls requesting status of applications. Our representatives will reach out to clients on an as-needed basis. We will notify you by postcard or email when your application is received, and then again by letter or email with an update when we have processed your application. Please remember that we are a non emergency program.

• Eligibility Information

  • States
    • CA
  • Counties
    • Alameda County
  • Cities
    • Alameda, CA
    • Castro Valley, CA
    • Emeryville, CA
    • San Leandro, CA
    • Newark, CA
    • Union City, CA
    • Piedmont, CA
    • Oakland, CA
    • Livermore, CA
    • Dublin, CA
    • Berkeley, CA
    • San Lorenzo, CA
    • Pleasanton, CA
    • Hayward, CA
    • Albany, CA
    • Fremont, CA
  • Zipcodes
  • School Districts
  • Age Groups
    • Adult
  • Languages Served
    • English
    • Spanish
  • Family Incomes
  • Insurance Providers

• Files

  Application Form	LIHEAPSpnApp2024.pdf	12-28-2023
  Application Form	LIHEAPEngApp2024.pdf	12-28-2023