The Maine Housing Authority (MaineHousing) announced earlier this month that the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) has opened for applications for the 2025 program year. MaineHousing anticipates the program’s funding to remain the same as last year at just over $41 million.
During the last heating season, the program provided fuel assistance benefits to approximately 51,000 households, which was 22% above projections. MaineHousing said the program should serve a similar amount of households this year; and if demand is higher, a waitlist similar to the process implemented this past spring will be used.
Maine’s HEAP program, also referred to as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), is a grant funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is administered by MaineHousing in collaboration with Maine’s community action agencies and ProsperityME. The grant provides funding for fuel assistance benefits and other critical programs such as the Emergency Crisis Intervention Program for households about to run out of fuel, the Central Heating Improvement Program that repairs or replaces faulty furnaces, and the Weatherization Program to improve home efficiency.
During the past several years, MaineHousing and its partners have made changes to the program to reduce barriers for applicants. A new software platform is being implemented that will further streamline the application process and improve the online application function. The benefit determination method has also been redesigned to ensure that a larger benefit is allocated to households that need it most – those with the lowest income and the greatest energy burden.
With its limited funding, the HEAP program is not an emergency heating assistance program but rather a supplement that is usually provided to a household’s fuel vendor for use at some point during the year. Most applicants are required to have a meeting with a community action agency or partner as part of the application process, and it’s important to note that these meetings are often scheduled several weeks out from the time of application.
To find a nearby community action agency, visit MaineHousing’s website.