KMC Energy Assistance Update for October 13, 2022

Energy Assistance Program Update
October 13, 2022

The Hoopa Valley Tribe received $43,405.00 to fund the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 (October 1 – September 30). Congress also appropriated additional funding for LIHEAP under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP). The Hoopa Valley Tribe received $50,397.00 that provided additional relief for tribal members in the community. These additional funds were required to be obligated by September 30, 2022. This year 142 tribal member families received assistance and all funds have been exhausted.

The Model Plan Application for LIHEAP Funding for FY 2023 was submitted on September 28, 2022. A Notice of Action was received on October 3, 2022 that the Hoopa Valley Tribe’s plan was approved another year. The LIHEAP Program is currently closed and we are not accepting applications at this time. Once the Award Letter is received for FY23, the community will be informed of the application process.

The new federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) provides financial assistance to low-income families to help manage residential water utility costs. The Hoopa Valley Tribe received $52,339.00 under the ARP Act of 2021 and $66,989.00 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA). These funds must be obligated by September 30, 2023.

To best assist the community, we obligated the ARP funding for FY22 and the CAA funding for FY23 so that tribal members would be able to receive a total of two benefits. As of today’s date, 22 tribal member households water has been restored, 72 tribal member households water was prevented from being disconnected, and 31 tribal member households had their water bills reduced and a total of $45,633.00 has been obligated of the ARP funding. The LIHWAP Program is currently closed  and will re-open on November 1, 2022 for FY2023.

ELDERS KEROSENE PROGRAM

K’ima:w Medical Center (KMC) funds the Elder’s Kerosene Program. We currently have 58 elders listed with kerosene heaters. The purpose of this program is to provide Hoopa Tribal Elders with 100 gallons of kerosene per fiscal year to help offset costs of heating fuel. This program is tentatively set to begin November 1, 2022.

For more information on energy assistance programs, contact Sunshine Jackson, Director of Energy and Emergency Assistance at (530) 625-4261, Ext. 0324.