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Update on Federal Funding
Fuel Assistance/HEAP funds have been released by the federal government, which means the program is now fully operational. Approved payments are being processed, and applications are being accepted. Click here to apply online.
The Heating System Repair & Replacement Program/HEARTWAP funds have been released. The program is fully operational.
If you need assistance, please call us at 978-282-1000 – we are happy to assist you.
While the shutdown has ended, Congress has not yet approved a federal budget for the current fiscal year. The White House has released a proposed budget which, if approved, will have serious consequences for thousands of Cape Ann and Essex County residents who rely on critical programs run by Action Inc.
The proposed budget eliminates the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps over 3,000 local residents stay warm each winter. It also cuts the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which last year helped 420 people avoid eviction and connected 1,100+ residents to vital services.
Additionally, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently announced changes to permanent supportive housing for those experiencing chronic homelessness that will have devastating impacts on people in our community. In the past year alone, 140 people received stable housing through Action Inc.’s HUD-funded programs.
What is the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program?
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), also known as HEAP or Fuel Assistance, is a federal program that provides funding to local agencies—like Action Inc.—to help eligible households pay a portion of their winter heating bills.
- No matter what type of heating source you have (gas, oil, electric, propane, wood, kerosene, etc.), we may be able to help you pay your winter heating bills.
- If LIHEAP is eliminated, the impact will be severe—especially in colder regions like Cape Ann.
What is the Community Services Block Grant?
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is a federal program that provides funding to local agencies—like Action Inc.—to help people in low-income communities become more self-sufficient and stable.
- Flexible funding: CSBG is used for a wide range of local needs, such as help with rent, utilities, job training, and more.
- Crisis support: It’s used to assist people facing short-term emergencies like job loss, eviction, or illness, helping them avoid long-term hardship.
- Local control: Funds go to Community Action Agencies (like Action Inc.) that tailor services to what their communities need most.
- Impact example: At Action Inc. alone, CSBG funding helped over 420 people avoid eviction and connected 1,100+ residents to essential services last year.
What are the implications of the recently announced changes to the Department of Housing & Urban Development’s Continuum of Care housing program?
The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) is making fundamental changes to a federal program that provides permanent housing and supportive services to formerly homeless people in our region and across the country.
The Continuum of Care (CoC) is a long-standing, successful HUD program that helps formerly homeless individuals and families find stability. Participants must have a long history of homelessness and a diagnosed disability to receive any services through this program. CoC program participants work with their case managers toward achieving their goals – including finding employment, accessing medical care, and reconnecting with family – from the safety of their own apartments.
The changes to the CoC program will cause widespread and devastating increases in homelessness across the country. In our region, Action Inc.’s Supportive Housing program provides permanent housing and case management services to 87 households – and 40 percent of this program is funded via CoC.
The CoC program provides a vital stream of guaranteed rent payments to local landlords, as well. Through the CoC program, Action Inc. works with 35 local landlords who rely on CoC funding to assist participants with their rental payments.
To learn more about these changes to CoC funding, click here to review materials created by the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance. Click here to read a recent editorial in the Boston Globe regarding these shocking changes.
What You Can Do
Action Inc. has spent the last 60 years helping hard-working people on the North Shore find housing, heating, and hope. Now, we need your help!
- Share our Federal Advocacy Toolkit on social media and with your networks.
- Contact your representatives today at the local and federal levels and ask them to keep fighting for programs like CSBG, LIHEAP, and HUD.
- Share your story with us. Action Inc. wants to hear from Cape Ann residents who have received help from us in the past since this helps us with our own advocacy efforts. Tell us about your experience below.
No one in our community should have to choose between food, heat, or a safe place to call home.