Energy Assistance Helps Michigan’s Most Vulnerable

AMP believes no one should ever have to choose between paying for essentials like rent, food, or medical treatment and keeping their home warm during Michigan’s bleak winters. That’s why energy assistance programs are such a vital part of any smart energy policy for Michigan.

Funding for Energy Assistance

Currently, much of the funding for state and local energy assistance efforts flows from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Read more about the range of energy assistance programs operating in Michigan.

To protect all Michiganders, federal lawmakers must protect and fully fund the LIHEAP program.

Two Sides of Energy Assistance

There are two main approaches energy assistance programs take to help Michiganders in need:

Self-sufficiency programs that help low-income families address the root causes of late payments and overdue accounts, enabling them to avoid shut-offs over the long term.
Crisis assistance programs that provide short-term solutions when emergencies hit by providing one-time financial assistance for heating, fuel, electricity, or home repairs.

Both approaches help Michiganders in need, but AMP believes focusing on self-sufficiency programs will help prevent many crisis situations from happening in the first place, helping to maximize our federal LIHEAP dollars to help more Michiganders in need.

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