FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT
October 7, 2021 Paula Arkema, Health & Energy Coordinator
IMPACT Community Action Partnership
515-777-7639
(DES MOINES, Iowa) IMPACT Community Action Partnership will be taking applications for the new federal Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) beginning October 8, 2021. The program is part of an ongoing effort to address the financial impact of COVID-19, and seeks to help households that have fallen behind in water bills and are facing disconnection of service or have already been disconnected. Assistance will be provided in the form of benefit payments made directly to water vendors on behalf of households for past-due charges, fees, and taxes for drinking and wastewater services. The application period is open-year round; LIHWAP will run through September 30, 2023, or until funds are exhausted.
Families in Boone, Jasper, Marion, Polk, or Warren Counties interested in applying for LIHWAP may call 515-518-4770 to schedule a phone appointment or visit our website at www.impactcap.org/utility-assistance for more information. IMPACT offices are still currently closed to the public due to ongoing public health concerns surrounding COVID-19. During their phone appointment, applicants will need to furnish some form of identification, a copy of their most recent heating and electric bill, social security or I-94 cards, and proof of gross income for all household members for the past 30 days, the most recent 12 months, or for the past calendar year.
Eligibility income maximums for participation is established according to the following federal income guidelines:
Household Size Annual Gross Income* ** 1 $25,760
2 $34,840
3 $43,920
4 $53,000
5 $62,080
6 $71,160
7 $80,240
8 $89,320
*For households with more than eight members, add $9,080 for each additional member.
**All income will be annualized. Income will be collected for a 30-day period.
LIHWAP is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Iowa Department of Human Rights/DCAA, and is not designed to pay a household’s total utility cost. The program will provide supplemental assistance based on several factors including household income, household size, and other factors.
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IMPACT Community Action Partnership is a 501(c)(3) private, non-profit organization serving five counties in central Iowa. The organizational mission is to reduce the barriers and burdens that families in poverty experience by increasing access to essential needs. Additional information can be obtained by contacting IMPACT’s administrative office at 3226 University Avenue in Des Moines, by dialing 515-518-4770, or online at www.impactcap.org.