The Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council is accepting applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, now through June 29.
LIHEAP, a federally funded program administered by the state Department of Human Services, allows low-income households to apply for assistance with their utility bills. Applicants are informed of the amount of the award in late October or November 2018. The financial assistance is deposited in the applicant’s utility account around December and is used until it is exhausted.
Applications will be taken at the following sites:
• Hilo HCEOC office, 47 Rainbow Drive, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• Pahoa Community Center, 15-2910 Kuuhome St., 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday (note: HCEOC might be subject to move out of Pahoa at any time due to the volcano eruption. Should this occur, the alternate site will be the Connection Point Church in Hawaiian Paradise Park).
• Naalehu HCEOC office, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Community Center, 92-8924 Leilani Circle, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
• Edmund Olson Trust Office, Pahala, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
• Kona HCEOC office, 76-6804 Mamalahoa Highway, Holualoa, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday (note: If closed for renovations, HCEOC will relocate to the Imin Center, 76-5893A Old Government Road, Holualoa).
• Honokaa HCEOC office, 45 Mamane St, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Documents needed:
• Current HELCO electric bill or GasCo bills, no more than 30 days old (if the utility subscriber is different from the applicant and does not live in the household, then they must sign a required form and provide a picture ID).
• Proof of income for all household members such as, paystubs for all jobs since January 2018, award letters from Social Security, SSI, disability, unemployment, general assistance and/or food stamps (SNAP), pension letter, retirement statement and other payments.
• Proof of physical address (rental agreement, lease, county housing section 8 or property tax bill, if owned).
• Identification of all household members (all adults need a picture ID such as driver’s license, state ID, passport).
• Birth certificates or passports for all. Verification of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident (passport, INS card I-94, I-151, birth certificates).
• Verification of Social Security numbers; Social Security cards for all people living in your household.
• ECI only: Final utility termination notice (if you’ve received a shut-off or disconnect notice from HELCO).
For additional information, call Gail Shioshita, LIHEAP program manager, at 961-2681, ext. 303.