Who We Are

Welcome to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Clearinghouse Web site, an Internet information service for state, tribal and local LIHEAP providers, and others interested in low-income energy issues. This site will be a supplement to the LIHEAP-related information the LIHEAP Clearinghouse currently provides through its phone line (406-494-8662) and newsletter.

Since 1988, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) has operated the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Clearinghouse through a training and technical assistance contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance.

The Clearinghouse collects, develops, organizes and disseminates information on low-income energy issues to:

state, tribal, and territorial LIHEAP grantees;
community action agencies and local government offices (subgrantees);
low-income energy service organizations;
fuel funds;
utilities and utility regulatory commissions.

Through regular contact with the above parties, the Clearinghouse maintains and updates a nationwide information-sharing network.

The Clearinghouse provides information that helps low-income energy providers and low-income energy issue groups accomplish any or all of the following:

improve the management and delivery of low-income energy services;
target benefits to those with the highest energy burdens or the most need;
initiate innovative administrative and programmatic improvements;
investigate and obtain sources of supplemental, nonfederal funding;
reduce energy consumption by program recipients;
foster energy self-sufficiency and reduce program dependency among recipients; and
maximize cooperative and coordinated efforts among utilities, HHS, grantees and organizations serving low-income persons.

Our overall goal is to expand and enhance information exchange on low-income energy issues with the national low-income energy network. We will strive to make this service as timely and informative as possible, but we need your input. We encourage you to contact us at with comments, suggestions, and questions. Please email Kay Joslin or Sherry Vogel or telephone (406) 494-8662.

Information you won't find here: LIHEAP grantee allocations, LIHEAP policy issues, information memoranda and action transmittals to grantees on program rules, regulation, and policy. This information is provided at the web site of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance.

Finally, this site does NOT provide information on where or how to receive LIHEAP benefits. For that information, go to your state or tribal web site. If your state or tribe does not have a web site, email or call your state or tribal LIHEAP director, whom you'll find listed in the State or Tribal Directories.

This homepage was developed for the Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance, by the National Center for Appropriate Technology, under Contract No. 1435-04-03-CT-73120 from the Administration of Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to operate the National Clearinghouse on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Other than LIHEAP documents uploaded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, the contents of the Clearinghouse Web site do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of HHS, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial products, organizations or program activities imply endorsement by the U.S. Government or compliance with HHS regulations.

Page Last Updated: July 8, 2008