Area Served:

Sevier, Howard, Little River, Hempstead, Nevada, Miller, Lafayette County.

Arkansas Community Action Agencies (CAA) provide a variety of opportunities for low- and middle-income Arkans to increase their household stability and levels of self-sufficiency.

People with low incomes are provided with opportunities to involve members of their communities in volunteer and other civic activities.

People with disabilities and the elderly benefit from support and emergency services that help them maintain an independent living status.

Babies, children and adolescents receive development services so that they can reach their full potential.

Arkansas AAC works with a network of community partners to provide opportunities for families and improve living conditions in low-income communities.

Services provided:

Energy efficiency and utility assistance programs.

Public service costs for low-income families consume a considerable part of their monthly income.

Increasing energy efficiency for these households not only reduces their utility costs, but also their energy consumption.

LIHEAP

Arkansas community action agencies provide public service assistance to low-income households through the federally-funded

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

This program operates on a first-come, first-served basis.

Finance is limited.

LIHEAP regular service program.

Offers the payment of a fixed benefit based on monthly household income and household size income guidelines are revised annually.

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

Eligible families may receive assistance once per program.

LIHEAP crisis intervention program

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

State policy determines the maximum amount of assistance available per family.

Benefits are paid directly to the utilities.

Offers families can receive assistance once per program.

A copy of the closing notice is required.

Information needed to register:

- Proof of residency

- Proof of income for all household members and from all sources received in the month preceding the application for assistance.

Proof of income may include:

- Copies of check stubs showing pre-tax wages for full-time, part-time, or self-employment

- Statement from the Employment Security Agency for all unemployed adults

- Statement from the Office of Child Support Enforcement, if one or more birth parents are not in the family

- A copy of the award letter or bank account statement showing automatic deposits from the Social Security Institution, SSI, Veterans Administration, or other pension benefits.

- Identification information for all household members (names, dates of birth, social security numbers)

- Copy of 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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