In the summer of 2021, the Pacific Northwest experienced unprecedented heat, with cities like Portland, Oregon, and Quillayute, Washington, breaking temperature records by significant margins. Washington faced a particularly severe impact, with a heat wave resulting in 125 heat-related fatalities, marking the deadliest weather event in the state’s history. The heat wave disproportionately affected low-income and unhoused individuals who lacked air-conditioning.
In response, Washington state officials made a significant adjustment to their energy assistance program. Since the early 1980s, states, tribes, and territories have receiving financial support via the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to assist low-income individuals with electricity bills and energy-efficiency upgrades. This program, funded by Congress and administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), traditionally provided heating assistance during the colder months. However, in 2021, the program expanded to include cooling assistance amid increasing heat waves.
In the previous year, Congress allocated $4.1 billion for LIHEAP, with HHS distributing 90% of the funds. However, the program is now facing challenges. At the beginning of this month, HHS, under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., conducted layoffs affecting 10,000 employees, including those responsible for LIHEAP management. Consequently, an additional $378 million intended for the program remains unallocated due to the absence of necessary personnel to facilitate its distribution.
LIHEAP supports approximately 6 million people, providing critical aid during extreme weather conditions, including cold winters and intense summer heat. The program’s absence of staff has exacerbated the vulnerability of these populations, especially as regions such as Phoenix anticipate high temperatures reaching 100 degrees soon.
An HHS employee formerly involved with LIHEAP, who was among those laid off, emphasized the dire consequences of the staff reduction. They highlighted the essential role of agency personnel in guiding states and tribes on utilizing program flexibilities to meet community needs, a service increasingly crucial given the nation’s unpredictable weather patterns.
In typical circumstances, once Congress approves LIHEAP funding, HHS disperses it in the fall to prepare for winter. Subsequently, states and entities decide the allocation between winter and summer needs. Historically, LIHEAP demand has exceeded available resources, with only about one-fifth of eligible households receiving aid. Often, states exhaust their funds before summer, and according to the former employee, at least a quarter of grant recipients face funding shortages at some point during the year.
