Name of program: Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

What is the program’s goal? The California Department of Community Services and Development’s Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program helps pay the summer cooling, winter heating, wood, propane and oil assistance bills of low-income individuals and families.

When was the program established at EOC? LIHEAP was established in the mid-80s as a weatherization program.

Who do you help (client base)? low-income households within Fresno County

What are the eligibility requirements? Participants must:

• be a low-income Fresno County resident
• have a current PG&E bill or 48-hour notice
• provide a social security card, current California ID, and verifiable income within the past six weeks.

How many clients do you serve monthly/annually? 672 monthly/8,065 annually

Who is the current program manager? Carmen Soria

How many employees work for this program? 12

Where is your office / are your offices located? LIHEAP offices are located at:

• 1900 Mariposa Mall, suites 111 & 116, in downtown Fresno
• Orange Cove Community Center
• Reedley Workforce Connection
• Firebaugh Senior Center
• Selma Regional Center
• Mendota Workforce Connection
• Sanger Community Center

Tell us about one of your “success stories.” The 2007 Freeze presented challenges that turned into opportunities; as a result of the severe weather, LIHEAP was able to provide energy assistance to many rural families and small farmers. EOC took the lead and collaborated with various agencies for donations and services (i.e., food, utility assistance, grants, community project, etc.). The City of Fresno provided EOC $500,000 to lend out to the small farmers who had lost their winter crops.

Anything else you’d like to tell us about your program? EOC is developing new LIHEAP services to meet the immediate needs of low-income households that are experiencing severe weather crisis.