Training and Technical Assistance: Training workshops and clearinghouses have been conducted.
The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.
Energy Assistance Block Grants are estimated to be awarded to 50 States, the District of Columbia, five Trust Territories, and numerous federally- and State-recognized Indian Tribal governments in fiscal year 2007 and fiscal year 2008. During fiscal year 2006, States provided regular and crisis heating assistance benefits to approximately 5.2 million households. Additionally, households could have received other energy crisis assistance, assistance with cooling costs, or weatherization assistance. As a result, some households can receive more than one type of LIHEAP assistance. States are expected to serve approximately 5.0 million households in fiscal years 2007 and 2008.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Energy Assistance Block Grants: Funds are awarded to States and other jurisdictions, which then make payments directly to an eligible low-income household or, on behalf of such household, to an energy supplier to assist in meeting the cost of home energy.
Up to 10 percent of these funds may be used for State and local planning and administration.
Up to 15 percent may be used for low-cost residential weatherization.
Grantees may request that DHHS grant a waiver for the fiscal year that increases from 15 percent to 25 percent funds that can be allotted for residential weatherization.
Depending upon specific appropriations, DHHS may allocate supplemental LIHEAP leveraging incentive funds to grantees that have acquired nonfederal leveraged resources in order to provide additional benefits and services to LIHEAP-eligible households to help them meet their home heating and cooling needs.
Up to 25 percent of leveraging incentive funds may be allocated by DHHS to LIHEAP grantees that provide services through community-based nonprofit organizations to LIHEAP-eligible households to reduce their energy vulnerability, under the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge Program (REACH).
Up to $600,000,000 is authorized as emergency contingency funds to be used to meet additional needs arising from a natural disaster or other emergency.
Such funds will be made available only after submission to Congress of a formal budget request for all or part of the funds by the President that designates the amount of the request as an emergency under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
Training and Technical Assistance: the Secretary has authority to set aside up to $300,000 from each year's appropriation for training and technical assistance relating to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
These T/TA activities are accomplished through: grants, contracts, or jointly financed cooperative or interagency agreements with States, Indian tribes, tribal organizations, public agencies, or private nonprofit organizations; through interagency agreements, including with Federal agencies; or through on-site compliance reviews of LIHEAP grantees.
The nature of and amount awarded for training and technical assistance vary from year to year.