MaineHousing Home Energy Assistance Program Moves To Waiting List Process On March 1

As Of January 31 More Than Maine 35,000 Households Have Received Heating Help For The 2023-2024 Winter Heating Season

AUGUSTA – With more than 75 percent of available funds committed, MaineHousing’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is moving to a wait-list process for completed, eligible program applications taken after 5 p.m. on March 1, 2024.

Applications will continue to be received and processed after the deadline but they will not be moved forward for benefit payment until eligible applications already in the pipeline have been paid and funding is available. The 2023-2024 HEAP program year will close to all applications on May 31, 2024 or upon the depletion of program funds, whichever comes sooner.

This change is being implemented to ensure eligible households, which have already completed the application process, have the best opportunity to receive a benefit during the current program year as the funding for this program, which first opened to applicants in July of 2023, nears exhaustion.

An increase in applications for assistance, more efficient application processing by partnering Community Action Agencies and a new online appointment system coupled with an overall reduction in total available energy assistance funding in 2023 have all combined for a more rapid depletion of program funding than in years past.

“As demand and eligibility for this program has steadily outstripped the available resource, MaineHousing is projecting all available HEAP funding will be dispersed to eligible households by winter’s end,” said MaineHousing Director Daniel Brennan. “But rather than close the program outright we will continue to accept applications, to be paid as eligible in the order they were received should there be any remaining funding once applications received prior to the deadline are paid.”

As of January 31, the 2023-2024 HEAP program has provided $19.06 million in benefits to more than 35,000 homes in Maine with an average energy benefit of $546. There is approximately $7.8 million remaining in the fund but it is expected those remaining funds will be distributed to eligible households already in the application pipeline.

MaineHousing’s program metrics for HEAP can be found on the agency’s public dashboards at www.mainehousing.org. 

Applications for the 2024-2025 HEAP heating season will be made available starting in mid-July of 2024.

The Home Energy Assistance Program, is funded each year with a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and is meant to help low to moderate income households cover a portion of their home’s energy costs.

Households that are facing an immediate heating crisis – those with less than a quarter tank of heating oil, less than 25 percent in a propane tank or less than a seven-day supply of firewood, may still be eligible for emergency assistance through the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP). Applicants may also still be eligible for the Low Income Assistance Program (LIAP) and for fuel supplements available within the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Program.

Those facing an immediate heating crisis are encouraged to contact their local community action agency for help or to dial 2-1-1 Maine to be connected to resources that are closest to them.