Need assistance with your Water & Wastewater utility bill?
We understand many customers are facing financial hardship. The Town would like to share a new program with you that is designed to provide low-income households assistance for their water and wastewater services costs. Please see the Low-Income Household Water Assistance (LIHWA) program flyer below.
Accounts that have been disconnected or are going to be disconnected, will be reviewed first. Secondly, accounts that are delinquent more that 60-days will be reviewed. Then, finally accounts that are facing financial hardship and affordability will be reviewed.
STEP 1: Pick up an application at Town Hall, 525 N. 1st Street. Fully complete your application and mail to 2316 S 6th St. Suite C, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601, email energy@klcas.org or FAX (541) 882-3674. Energy Assistance Line: (541) 882-3500
STEP 2: Klamath & Lake Community Action Services (KLCAS) will verify your income and the amount owed on your water/wastewater utility bill.
This program has limited funding. Please turn in your application as soon as possible to see if you qualify. This program ends when the funding runs out, so it is imperative that you apply now if you want a chance at receiving any assistance. Energy Assistance Line: (541) 882-3500
DOWNLOADS:
Application (English) or Application (Spanish)
LIHWA Program FAQs and LIHWA Program Flyer
Program Details
The temporary Low-Income Household Water Assistance (LIHWA) Program was established through the passing of the Consolidated Appropriations and American Rescue Plan Acts of 2021. Contained with the U.S. Health and Human Services’ Office of Community Services (OCS), OHCS has been designated as the State of Oregon Grantee.
OHCS will receive a total of $13.8 million that must be awarded by September 30, 2023.
The LIHWA Program target population and priorities include:
• Low-income households with high water burdens,
• Households who are disconnected, pending for disconnection, and who have
arrearages, as well as those households who are current.
Nearly parallel to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), program
highlights include:
Eligible utilities – public and private water and/or wastewater utilities that serve
permanent residential communities
Eligible households – those with household income at or below 60% State Median Income
(SMI) and with service provided from an eligible water and/or wastewater utility
Local operation – the Community Action Agency (CAA) network through partnership
with the utilities and culturally responsive organizations
Application process – through the local CAA office that administers LIHEAP
Assistance payment process – all payments go directly to the utility
Households with water/wastewater service managed by their landlords or management
companies may still be eligible for LIHWA Program assistance. Those households will require
a landlord authorization form included with their application.
OHCS received approval on its LIHWA Program State Plan for the State of Oregon.
Anticipating several weeks to initiate grant agreements with CAAs and vendor agreements
with water/wastewater utilities, OHCS expects LIHWA assistance should be available in
January 2022.
For additional program information and updates, please visit the OHCS LIHWA Program
website for updates or correspond with the LIHWA Program Analyst, Joy Aldrich, at joy.aldrich@oregon.gov or 503-986-0973.
Adopting a revised LIHWA Program Manual that incorporates recent changes.
Effective 05/12/2022 and Agency Approved 05/12/2022.
Frequently Asked Questions: Low-Income Household Water Assistance (LIHWA) Program
Oregon.gov details: Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program
Klamath & Lake Counties
Contact: Christina Zamora, Executive Director
Location/Address: 535 Market Street
Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601
Office: (541) 882-3500
Email: christinaz@klcas.org
Website: KLCAS Website
Need help because you’ve been affected by COVID? Contact us for assistance.
Energy/Utility Assistance Updated 6-18-2020
Klamath and Lake Counties (541) 882-3500
