Council approves $4.03M LIHEAP emergency allocation; staff warned of tight distribution deadline

The Metropolitan Council voted Feb. 11 to accept a $4,025,339 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant for federal fiscal year 2026 and to declare the item an emergency to allow immediate distribution of heating assistance.

Office of Social Services staff told the council the funds were delayed: the parish expected the grant Oct. 1 but did not receive it until Jan. 8. Because of program timing, staff said funds earmarked for heating must be distributed by March 31, creating a compressed processing window. OSS staff said they already have applications and applicant information from recent town halls and that an online application tool (administered via the Louisiana Housing Corporation platform and the parish OSS website) is ready to open as soon as the council approves the grant.

Councilors pressed staff on capacity and outreach. Councilman Godet and others said they would ask state and federal partners — and corporate utility partners — to seek flexibility on the deadline given the late receipt of funds. OSS staff said they have application pipelines and will prioritize rapid processing; they also said funds that remain after March 31 can be reallocated to cooling assistance later in the year and will not automatically revert to the federal government if used according to program rules.

Council approved the emergency acceptance and asked administration and OSS to coordinate outreach to affected residents and partners; motion carried.

What happens next: OSS will open the application portal and begin processing eligible claims for heating assistance; councilors asked staff to follow up with the parish’s state and federal delegation to seek any possible deadline flexibility.