Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II of Missouri’s Fifth District announced that Missouri was awarded $97.8 million in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The funding will go toward helping low-income individuals and families pay for home heating costs this winter, cover unpaid utility bills, and make cost-effective energy repairs to lower heating and cooling bills.

The total funding announced today comes from an additional $1 billion appropriated by Congress for LIHEAP to address rising energy costs, as well as $100 million appropriated for 2023 from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, both of which Congressman Cleaver proudly supported.

“Every year, LIHEAP serves millions of American households, helping to lower costs on heating, cooling, and weatherization services for hardworking families across the country,” Cleaver said. “Today, I’m proud to announce that additional investments from President Biden and Democrats in Congress will enable this successful program to serve more households than ever as we seek to provide relief from higher than usual energy costs that have been driven up by Putin’s despicable war in Ukraine. With this nearly $98 million in funding, more Missourians will be able to stay safe and warm throughout the upcoming winter months and at a reduced cost. That’s a major win in my book.”

Missourians interested in applying for energy assistance can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at: 1-866-674-6327. They can also find additional information and the application for LIHEAP assistance here.