The City of Coachella has announced that there are still funds available through the county's Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). This program is designed to provide financial assistance for water and sewage bills.
A post on the City of Coachella's Facebook page revealed that the deadline to apply for LIHWAP funding is March 15th. Notably, the assistance is provided in the form of a grant, which does not require repayment.
According to information on the County of Riverside's website, LIHWAP is a federally funded initiative offering one-time financial support to qualified low-income households. Importantly, residents do not need to be in arrears on their bill to be eligible for application.
Further details from the County of Riverside website specify eligibility criteria for the program. To qualify, an applicant must reside in Riverside County and have a household income at or below 60% of the state median income. Required documentation includes proof of income for the preceding four weeks; a copy of the applicant’s photo ID and Social Security Card; and either a U.S. birth certificate, U.S. Passport, Permanent Resident Card, Certificate of Naturalization, Social Security award letter or DD214 showing place of birth. For LIHWAP applications specifically, applicants must also present a current water/sewer bill. Additionally, it is mandatory that the household’s water system be enrolled in the Direct Pay Program to receive the LIHWAP grant payment.
The County of Riverside website also provides several methods for applying for the LIHWAP grant: online at https://www.caliheapapply.com; by emailing a completed application to energy@capriverside.org; faxing a completed application to 951-955-2230; or mailing a completed application to CAP Riverside, P.O. Box 5760, Riverside, California 92517-5760. Further information can be obtained by calling 951-955-4900 or visiting www.capriverside.org.