Community Action Agency of Arkansas (CAA) offers Arkansans low- to moderate-income residents with a variety of opportunities to increase family stability and self-sufficiency. People with low incomes are provided with opportunities to involve members of their communities in volunteer and other civic activities. Provide support and emergency services to persons with disabilities and senior citizens to help them maintain independent living conditions. To provide developmental services to infants, children and adolescents to enable them to reach their full potential. Arkansas CAA works with a network of social partners to provide opportunities for families and improve living conditions in low-income communities.

Area served:

Grant, Jefferson, Arkansas, Cleveland, Lincoln.

Services offered:

Program to support energy efficiency and utility assistance programs.

Utility costs for low-income families consume a considerable amount of their monthly incomes.

Greater energy efficiency for these households not only lowers their supply costs, but also reduces energy consumption.

LIHEAP

Arkansas' community action agencies offer utility assistance to low-income households through the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

This program runs on a first-come, first-served basis.
Funding is limited.

LIHEAP Regular aid program.
Offers payment of a fixed benefit based on monthly income and household size.

The revenue guidelines shall be updated annually.

Generally, LIHEAP benefits are paid directly to utilities on behalf of the applicant.

Qualified families can receive assistance once per program.

LIHEAP crisis intervention program

Offers assistance to low-income families to avoid disconnection or to restore service after disconnection.

The maximum amount of aid per household is determined by state policy.

Benefits are paid directly to utility companies.

Qualified families may receive assistance once per program.

A copy of the closing notice is required.

Information to be applied:

- Proof of residency.

- Proof of income from all members of the family and from all sources received in the month prior to the application for assistance.

Proof of income may include:

- Copies of the control slips showing pay before tax for full-time, part-time or self-employed persons.

- Department of Employment Security statement for all unemployed adults (adults)

- Declaration of the child support office, if one or more birth parents are not at home

- Copy of the award letter or bank statement indicating automatic social security deposits, SSI, Veterans' Office or other pension or disability payments.

- Identification information of all family members (names, dates of birth, social security numbers) o Copy of the utility bill.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance program is called LIHEAP. They assist low income people and families with their heating and cooling bills. This program is therefore, a year long program that is available 12 months a year. To qualify for the LIHEAP assistance, you need to qualify. We provide the current Federal Poverty Rates nationwide below.

You are automatically qualified for LIHEAP assistance if you participate in the SNAP food stamps program, TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or the SSI program through Social Security.

Federal Poverty Guidelines for 2024

Persons In Family	Earnings (100% Fed Poverty Guideline)
1	$15,060
2	$20,440
3	$25,820
4	$31,200
5	$36,580
6	$41,960
7	$47,340
8	$52,720

*Alaska and Hawaii have different rates for HUD federal poverty guidelines.
These numbers above represent 100% of the Federal Poverty Rate. In order to get legal aid from some offices, they use a sliding fee scale. When they use a sliding fee scale, the 100% rate can be different than 100%. In those cases, using for example a 200% federal poverty level, you will only need double the 100% number listed above to 200%.

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