Heating Assistance Program Looks to Help Families as Cold Season Approaches
November 12, 2026
Individuals meeting at (or below) 200% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible to apply for the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) facilitated through the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc. (HACAP) in 9 Eastern Iowa counties that include: Linn, Johnson, Jones, Benton, Dubuque, Delaware, Jackson, Iowa, and Washington. LIHEAP is a federally funded program designed to assist low-income families meet the cost of home heating by providing a one-time payment to the heating utility provider.
Homeowners and renters living within these 9 counties can apply for assistance online at hacap.org/energy through April 30, 2027. Applications can also be downloaded and submitted by mail to HACAP Energy Assistance at PO Box 490, Hiawatha, IA 52233 or by email to energy@hacap.org.
To apply, applicants will need to provide the following documentation:
- IDENTIFICATION: Social Security cards for everyone in household
- HEATING/ELECTRIC BILL: Most current heat and electric bill.
- INCOME PROOF: Wages, Salary, Social Security or SSI, past year Federal Tax Form
- UTILITY AUTHORIZATION RELEASE: Only if utilities are not under your name.
Last year, a total of 9,249 households were approved for LIHEAP in Eastern Iowa, totaling $4,310,000 in assistance. Additional information on LIHEAP can be found online by visiting hacap.org/energy.
