Assurance 16: Tribes

Link to: Assurance 16: States and Territories

[Last edited: 02/23/2025]

Note: In 1994, a new provision, Assurance 16, was added to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program statute. It provides LIHEAP grantees the option of spending no more than five percent of their LIHEAP funds on services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance, including needs assessment, counseling, and assistance with energy vendors.

State	Tribe	% Funds	Describe

Alabama	Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe	0	Provide free literature regarding energy saving techniques.
Alabama	Mowa Band of Choctaw	0
Alabama	Poarch Band of Creek Indians	0
Alabama	United Cherokee Ani'Yun'Wiya Nation	0	We offer no program for this.
Alaska	Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association	0	We have not had a formal program in the past. This service has been provided by the State of Alaska.
Alaska	Aniak Traditional Council	0
Alaska	Association of Village Council Presidents	0
Alaska	Bristol Bay	0	BBNA did not apply for Assurance 16 in 2022, although we partner with local agencies encouraging reducing home energy burden.
Alaska	Chuathbakuk Traditional Council	0
Alaska	Cook Inlet Tribal Council	0	Informational flyers to reduce home energy costs are sent out at the beginning of the fiscal year and mid-year.
Alaska	Kenaitze Indian Tribe	0	Each intake is conducted or screened by the Social Services Intake Technician. In person intakes are in a space where interaction can be an individual, family, team or with another supportive person. A brief introduction, followed by listening to their story/needs or other information pertinent for warm transfers (referrals). The intake application captures various information for various programs. Description of needs is addressed as "What do you need help with?" to include and open space for the un'ina to write freely. The intake also captures family composition, emergency contact, income resources, dwelling type, housing, priority, tribal affiliation, physical community, utility vendors used and the notice of right to appeal. A warm transfer (referral) form is provided to the un'ina and the original is faxed, emailed or hand delivered to internal departments within Kenaitze Indian Tribe or other external agencies. The form has the department name and phone number for un'ina to follow up. Through this process we can warm transfer to the Kenaitze/Salamatof Housing Program that support energy sufficiency such as the SafeHome Program and the Urgent Home Repair Program. Un’ina are also notified of the Alaska Community Development Corporation that also assists with energy efficiency.
Alaska	Orutsararmiut Native Council	0	We do not provide at this time.
Alaska	Seldovia Village Tribe	0	No LIHEAP funds are expended on this activity.
Alaska	Sitka Tribe of Alaska	0	Clients applying for LIHEAP who are eligible or potentially eligible for assistance from other programs will be required to concurrently apply for that assistance, unless unable for good reason.
Alaska	Tanana Dena'Nena'Henash	1	Tanana Chiefs Conference Housing Program educates households on how they can reduce the cost of energy needs when weatherization work is being performed on their homes. Tanana Chiefs Conference has on staff a Rural Energy Coordinator who works closely with tribes on how to reduce energy cost and counsels households on reducing their energy burdens for the entire community and with internal coordination of services the LIHEAP program has been able to provide low energy cost items such as energy efficient light bulbs to be available during our annual Tanana Chiefs Conference Convention. Staff have also put out a newsletter in 2021 in The TCC Council on Energy Tips for its tribal members.
Alaska	Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority	0
Alaska	Yakutat Tlingit Tribe	0	We have purchased materials to educate clients on methods to conserve energy. These items are distributed at the annual tribal membership meeting and will be made available to clients as they submit their applications.
Arizona	Cocopah Indian Tribe	5	Comment should be: We purchase pamphlets on ways to lower cost of energy during the summer. Inform the households on peak hours when the cost of energy is not to high. We address the budgeting process at the time of application process too.
Arizona	Colorado River Indian Tribes	0	The LIHEAP worker provides flyers and relevant energy saving tips to LIHEAP recipients, and to the community. Flyers and informational tips relevant to energy costs reductions are accessed at the Office of Social Services located on a pamphlet/flyer carousel, available to all applicants and recipients of LIHEAP assistance.
Arizona	Gila River Indian Community	0	Informational booths to outreach to the District Communities on energy conservation and Program availability and resources.
Arizona	Navajo Nation	2	Service Providers offer energy reduction education through various methods such as brochures and handouts. During the application process, households are encouraged to reduce their home energy, in-house tutorial videos are presented in waiting areas, and/or application drives. Assurance 16 is also utilized for in-kind purchases like blankets, fans and energy kits. Energy kits are distributed to LIHEAP applicants during application intake. The kits include pamphlets/books and various household energy saving items that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs.
Arizona	Pasqua Yaqui Tribe	0
Arizona	Quechan Indian Tribe	0
Arizona	Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community	0	Applicants will attend a two-hour educational class that will address, budget, financial management, and information on how to reduce energy costs. The class will be a requirement for receiving LIHEAP assistance. The in person classes have resumed on July 5, 2023. Energy savings brochures are provided by the local utility company and are handed out to each client during the initial intake assessment at the Central Intake Center. In addition, a community wide newsletter will be sent out by mail to target households with high energy burdens. The newsletter will contain information on accessing current funding available. Income eligibility identifies the amount awarded to each applicant depending on the factors that pertain to the applicants. The awarded amounts will not exceed the budgeted amounts as identified in the matrix.
Arizona	San Carlos Apache Tribe	5	We make copies of state vendor's pamphlets on conserving energy and saving cost.
Arizona	White Mountain Apache Tribe	0
California	Berry Creek Rancheria - Tyme Maidu Tribe	0	Grant recipient provides information on energy cost savings that is posted in the Tribal Office. Grantee refers households to the PG&E website and other local utility providers for energy cost savings suggestions.
California	Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians	0	The LIHEAP Coordinator keeps track of energy assitance programs that Tribal Members might be eligible or other programs such as assistance with Solar Panels.
California	Bishop Paiute Tribe	0
California	Enterprise Rancheria	0
California	Hoopa Valley Tribe	0
California	Hopland Band of Pomo Indians	0	LIHEAP and HOUSING coordinators stay informed of alternate savings such as (solar) and informs membership.
California	Karuk Tribe	0	Helping clients to obtain energy efficient products and services to maximize energy-use, thus lowering their burden with energy costs.
California	Mooretown Rancheria	0
California	Northern California Indian Development Council	5	Provide season energy tips on a quarterly basis to fit the season. Provide monthly energy efficiency suggestions on a monthly basis. Provide information to LIHEAP Coordinators regarding programs offered by the various vendors and companies, via web and email, including programs such as CARE, Medical Base line and REACH. Reminder emails to have tribal member to recertify for any programs that they may currently receive through their energy company. Provide Weatherization information/referrals for tribe to share with tribal members.
California	Pinoleville Pomo Nation	0
California	Pit River Tribe	0
California	Quartz Valley Indian Reservation	0	QVIR distributes information on energy saving ideas to an email listserv which embodies most of our clientele.
California	Redding Rancheria	0	Applicants are given a handout with the fair hearing procedures at the time of intake. Contact information for the fraud hotline are given o n the application as well. An explanation is provided to all participants at intake as well.
California	Riverside-San Bernardino Indian Co. Health, Inc	0
California	Round Valley Indian Tribes	0
California	Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians	0
California	Southern Indian Health Council, Inc.	0
California	Yurok Tribe	0
Idaho	Coeur d'Alene Tribe	0	We use LIHEAP funds to provide services that help households reduce their home energy needs by working in conjunction with community programs and the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Housing. We also inform eligible clients through advertisements on Tribal social media platforms and other community outreach efforts.
Idaho	Nez Perce Tribe	0	Applicants receive an energy savings tip sheet with education on how to conserve and save energy in their homes. Avista Utilities, one of the main vendors, provides education and training to clients on energy conservation. They also include handouts with energy saving tips in every monthly bill and participate in our tribal annual housing fair.
Idaho	Shoshone Bannock Tribes	2	With Assurance 16 funding we are hosting a set of weatherization classes and energy informationals. With these classes we host DIY weatherization classes for their home. Also help co-host resource fairs with other programs that can provide them with information about resources around the area. Then teach clients about financial literacy and tips to help save money and be better consumers. We put out information on energy savings in our annual elder Christmas basket event. Where we provide them with information and items that they can use to keep themselves warm during the wintertime and to weatherize their home to save on energy.
Kansas	United Tribes of Kansas and SE Nebraska, Inc.	0	We purchase energy education materials for distribution.
Maine	Mi’kmaq Nation	1	We provide literature on low-cost energy saving tips. We also work with energy vendors to assist clients in reduction of energy costs.
Maine	Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians	0
Maine	Passamaquoddy Tribe - Indian Township	0
Maine	Passamaquoddy Tribe - Pleasant Point	0	Salaries and benefit costs for any staff providing services "that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance is allowable." Additionally, direct costs associated with providing these services, including supplies, equipment, postage, utilities, rental office space, and travel costs incurred for official business are also allowable.
Maine	Penobscot Indian Nation	0
Massachusetts	Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribal Council	0
Michigan	Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians	4	GTB provides weatherization workshops to help identify points of energy inefficiency. LIHEAP provides kits to address weatherization, including supplies of caulking, window plastic, water heater blankets, etc. The GTB also includes services to assist the clients in paying the electric bill, budgeting for energy bills, and offering additional assistance to learn in cutting the homes energy use.
Michigan	Inter-Tribal Council of MI, Inc.	0
Michigan	Keweenaw Bay Indian Community	0
Michigan	Little River Band of Ottawa Indians	0
Michigan	Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians	5	The department will provide educational materials to participants both during the LIHEAP season and before. Materials will be provided from all the local vendors that addresses items such as, window plastic use, turning off lights, limiting the amount of water usage, etc.
Michigan	Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians	0	Although there are no monetary fee's associated with this section, assistance is provided through outreach and education by the Direct Assistance staff. Energy efficiency awareness information is distributed to all ACFS reception areas and outreach is provided through various social media outlets such as the Tribal Newspaper, ACFS Facebook Page and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians official internet site.
Mississippi	Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians	0	At the time of office visit, caseworker does talk with the vulnerable population regarding their needs of repair, especially when they have higher utility bill. Assistance Services provided educational material like coloring books with reading materials. Issued LED bulbs, box fan, Air conditioner, and in the winter seasons infra-red, space heaters, blankets/quilts.
Montana	Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes (Fort Peck)	0
Montana	Blackfeet Tribal Business Council	1	The Tribe will use up to 1% of such funds in accordance with Assurance 16 to provide services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy by providing energy classes to clients.
Montana	Chippewa Cree Tribe	0
Montana	Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes	0
Montana	Fort Belknap Indian Community	0	LIEAP funds will be utilized to assist consumers in weatherizing their homes, repair their appliances and therefore reduce their energy need.
Montana	Northern Cheyenne Tribe	0	We make posters on program computers and print them and distribute in the communities Encourage the households to conserve energy by keeping their doors closed and keep their thermostats at medium when it is not really cold.
New Jersey	Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation	0
New Mexico	Jicarilla Apache Nation	0
New Mexico	Nambe Pueblo	0
New Mexico	Pueblo of Jemez	2
New Mexico	Pueblo of Laguna Utility Authority	0	Brochures, handouts and other materials are available and provided to applicants. The POLUA uses its own resources for energy education and conservation information.
New Mexico	Pueblo of Zuni	2	Applicants are given access to resources during one-on-one in-person interviews, including informal financial literacy coaching and brochures with advice on cutting energy expenses. A few more things to do are provide self-weatherization kits and participate in financial literacy workshops. In order to create energy-efficient homes, energy companies also offer resources on conservation techniques.
New York	Seneca Nation of Indians	0
New York	St. Regis Mohawk Tribe	0
North Carolina	Eastern Band of Cherokee	0
North Carolina	Lumbee Nation	2	The Lumbee Tribe Department of Energy and Rehabilitation work very closely to weatherize the homes of our tribal members and provide energy efficiency counseling and outreach to our tribal members in an effort to reduce their energy burden.
North Dakota	Spirit Lake Tribe	1	The Spirit Lake tribe will use Assurance 16 funds for the following activities: Case management Facilitation of households’ negotiations for budget payment Advocate with fuel supplier on behalf of households. Referrals The case management process will help identify households that are at risk if in a crisis situation. The LIHEAP intake specialist will gather information about the social & economic conditions of all members of the household so that a plan of action can be developed. The plan will be the tool developed to assist these households to become self-sufficient. The participant and the intake specialist will set goals to enhance the clients educational and job performance. Case management will promote family self-sufficiency, and long-term stability. The LIHEAP staff will conduct client intake interviews to identify circumstances such as unemployment, under-employment, drug/alcohol abuse, lack of child care, transportation, unaffordable housing, and chronic health issues the prevent clients from paying bills and having access to basic necessities. The case management will conduct assessments, develop action plans make referrals to local resources such as General assistance, TANF, Commodities, Employment & training, etc. The LIHEAP coordinator has also spent Assurance 16 funds, on activities that prevent or reduce crisis. The tribe used these funds to help households make payment arrangement with their utility supplier to prevent disconnection. Protection form Electric and Natural Gas disconnections LIHEAP income eligible household will not be disconnected if they make satisfactory payment arrangements. Another innovative way of handling & preventing crisis situations is the LIHEAP coordinator has assisted 100 families this past program year with facilitating payment arrangement for families who are receiving monthly General Assistance payment by setting up deductions to come out of their General assistance for utility bills and preventing disconnection.
North Dakota	Standing Rock Sioux	5	There is an attachment to the application that the intake worker goes over with the applicant on how to help reduce home energy costs at the time of the application. It will give examples of what the client can do to obtain results for reducing high energy costs
North Dakota	Three Affiliated Tribes	0
North Dakota	Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians	0
Oklahoma	Absentee	0
Oklahoma	Alabama-Quassarte	0
Oklahoma	Cherokee Nation	0
Oklahoma	Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes	0
Oklahoma	Chickasaw Nation	0	No funds were used for this purpose. Information regarding energy reduction is given during client interviews.
Oklahoma	Choctaw Nation	0	Choctaw Nation LIHEAP will consistently stress energy conservation through the following means: counseling of applicants on the telephone distributing printed information and handouts posting information on the Tribes website The objective of these actions are to encourage and enable households to save energy and reduce their home energy needs, as well as share methods to avoid heat exhaustion and hypothermia. No more than 5% LIHEAP funds will be utilized for this activity.
Oklahoma	Citizen Potawatomi Nation	5	Citizen Potawatomi Nation conducts Energy Reduction Classes in the winter months, and again in the summer cooling months. Tips, pamphlets, energy saving devices are all made available to attendees. Additionally speakers with give ideas and ways that energy consumption can be reduced. Participants are asked to share what steps they are now taking that is working for them. For those who stay through the entire class, additional utility payment is made on their account.
Oklahoma	Comanche Nation of Oklahoma	0
Oklahoma	Delaware Nation	0	The Delaware Nation LIHEAP funding received is utlilized for payments to energy vendors and heating or cooling devices for direct services only However, information regarding conserving and reducing energy needs is posted in the tribal newsletter, social medial page and website
Oklahoma	Delaware Tribe of Indians	0	Funds from LIHEAP are used to provide energy services. During the initial interview, questions are asked and counseling is provided on how to reduce monthly costs.
Oklahoma	Eastern Shawnee	0
Oklahoma	Fort Sill Apache Tribe	0
Oklahoma	Kaw Nation	3	Kaw Nation will provide verbal and written energy assistance education.
Oklahoma	Kialegee Tribal Town	0	If the energy burden is high, local companies are called to do an energy audit but LIHEAP funds are not used for this.
Oklahoma	Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma	4	providing fire safety, and energy saving information as well as winter and summer indoor/outdoor safety information.
Oklahoma	Kiowa Tribe	0	As people come to apply for LIHEAP, we can attach a brochure to the application regarding how to reduce home energy needs.
Oklahoma	Miami Tribe of Oklahoma	0	The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma provides handouts to LIHEAP applicants suggesting ways to reduce energy use and cost.
Oklahoma	Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma	0
Oklahoma	Muscogee (Creek) Nation	0
Oklahoma	Osage Nation	1	The Osage Nation purchases home energy resources materials, such as pamphlets, small booklets, thermometers, calendars energy efficient light bulbs etc. The Osage Nation also provides home energy weatherization materials to LIHEAP households, the materials are user friendly so they can apply to their homes. In FY 25 we plan to hold a class for elderly, to learn how to reduce their home energy needs.
Oklahoma	Otoe - Missouria Tribe of Indians	0
Oklahoma	Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma	5	We hand out tip sheets to reduce home utility usage and where to get weatherization help.
Oklahoma	Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma	0
Oklahoma	Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma	0
Oklahoma	Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma	0
Oklahoma	Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma	0	We purchase energy education materials for disbursement to clients and client advocation with energy providers.
Oklahoma	Seminole Nation of Oklahoma	0
Oklahoma	Seneca Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma	0
Oklahoma	Shawnee Tribe	0
Oklahoma	Thlopthlocco Tribal Town	0
Oklahoma	Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma	0
Oklahoma	United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians	5	Energy efficiency handouts are provided in English as well in Keetoowah language. The UKB provides their handout/brochures at the yearly tribal celebration in October. This celebration reaches hundreds of our LIHEAP households. The UKB HHS program also works with the Housing Department and our Environmental department to provide education to our members regarding reducing energy costs. LIHEAP funding has been utilized to purchase caulking and foam supplies to fill any gaps, plastic to cover windows, and energy efficient door gap fillers. UKB HHS works closely with our Housing Department to assess and address any issues which may arise regarding our members’ homes and energy inefficiency.
Oklahoma	Wichita and Affiliated Tribes	0
Oklahoma	Wyandotte Nation	0
Oregon	Confederated Tribes of Coos_Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians	0
Oregon	Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians	0	There are no funds used to provide services to households. However, energy education and referrals are given to clients at the time of intake.
Oregon	Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon	0	Information provided broadly to the community through the Tribes Emergency Management Program, recipient receive information and referral to other community resources.
Oregon	Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs	5	As needed, and in emergency situations, purchased energy efficient appliances ie, hot water heaters for households who needed replaced. For other needs as HVAC repair or replacement requests, referred applicant(s) to Neighbor impact weatherization program who requested LIHEAP at Warm Springs refer persons for these needs to them.
Oregon	Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians	0	Community budgeting with Neighborworks Umpqua to become more self-sufficient.
Oregon	Klamath Tribes	0
Rhode Island	Narragansett Indian Tribe	0
South Carolina	Catawba Indian Nation	0	We provide literature on power saving ideas.
South Dakota	Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe	0
South Dakota	Oglala Sioux Tribe	0
South Dakota	Rosebud Sioux Tribe	5	The LIHEAP Program employs an Energy Conservation Specialist who provides home visits and information on how to better conserve energy. LIHEAP produces public service announcements on our local radio stations, flyers, and brochures.
South Dakota	Yankton Sioux	0
Utah	Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah	5	The tribe does not have the weatherization program under the LIHEAP program. If the applicant(s) ask for weatherization assistance, we will refer the applicant(s) to the weatherization program in their area. Program staff will educate and encourage applicants to take advantage of the equal payment plans offered by the utility companies. This will help them in developing a budget and being able to make it work for them. Program staff also provide resource information regarding energy efficiency and ways to reduce their home energy needs.
Utah	Ute Tribe	0	Households with high energy burdens can be helped through an energy assessment conducted by the local Uintah Basin Association of Government program (UBAOG) which coordinates with the Ute Tribe LIHEAP. UBAOG is able to conduct energy audits and with coordination from the Tribe make modifications and repairs to Tribal homes utilizing the Tribe's Housing program when needed. Special energy efficient electric heaters will to be purchased through the LIHEAP program for selected homes having high energy needs (using propane or having especially large areas to heat) in order to shift some of the cost of heating to lower heating source. The heaters are purchased with unexpended funds remaining at the end of the grant year that are reassigned and obligated for this purpose (if there any unexpended funds in any given year). This program is strictly a contingency if funds are available and a plan amendment will be prepared and submitted if the situation presents itself.
Virginia	Monacan Indian Nation	0
Washington	Confederate Tribes of Colville	0
Washington	Hoh Indian Tribe	0
Washington	Jamestown S'Klallam	5	Printed energy saving materials are provided. Applicants may also contact the LIHEAP coordinator on how to access services through the tribe or other local agencies to learn how to reduce their home energy needs.
Washington	Kalispel Tribe of Indians	0	The Kalispel Tribe receives a minimal amount of funding and uses the funding for energy assistance only at this time.
Washington	Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe	0	The Social Services Department works with individuals to reduce their energy costs by providing informational booklets and other materials (previously purchased with carry-over LIHEAP funds from previous years and other non-LIHEAP funds).
Washington	Lummi Indian Business Council	0	We only use LIHEAP funds to pay directly for energy costs. The LIBC Planning and Housing Departments coordinate energy-savings efforts such as insulation and installation of efficient heating systems, using other funding sources.
Washington	Makah Indian Tribe	5	Applicants are counseled and assisted by the LIHEAP Coordinator to explore ways to keep paying their PUD bills even if we need to set up a payment plan with the utilities company to help keep them from losing their lights and avoid having to pay extra fees to get their power restored. Handouts are given on energy conservation. The Makah LIHEAP Coordinator also provides assistance with energy vendors as necessary. We also help seniors and disabled to fill out their discount paperwork that gives them 20% off their PUD bills each year. LIHEAP Coordinator provides an in-home visit to using the assessment tool to identify needs that may be assisted from the Makah LIHEAP Weatherization program funds.
Washington	Muckleshoot Indian Tribe	0
Washington	Nooksack Indian Tribe	0	Brochures and flyers are shared and displayed in our waiting area from outside agencies like Opportunity Council.
Washington	Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe	0	The Tribe at this time does not want to use the grant to enable households to reduce their energy needs. Clients residing in Tribal Housing Authority housing areas have home energy reduction services available to them through the Tribal Housing Authority.
Washington	Quileute Indian Tribe	0	Staff attend community events and distribute energy conservation information and products including informative brochures, coloring books for children, weather stripping, and insulative plastic for windows. Staff will attend events and partner with local agencies in FY 25 to help households learn about reducing their home energy needs by conserving energy and using energy efficient items in their homes.
Washington	Quinault Indian Nation	3.92
Washington	Samish Indian Nation	5	Conservation education is provided to applicants during program enrollment and through out the year on our website and through our Newsletters.
Washington	Small Tribes Organization of Western Washington	5	STOWW provides a list of helpful energy tips on the back of our statement letter, sent to each client. We distribute educational pamphlets, weatherization products or energy kits each fiscal cycle.
Washington	South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency	0
Washington	Spokane Tribe	0	Program distributes flyers mail notices, uses social media. Local utility program meets with applicant on a voluntary basis in form of community meetings to discuss ways to save energy and promotes safety in residents’ homes.
Washington	Suquamish Indian Tribe of the Port of Madison Reservation	0
Washington	Swinomish Indian Tribal Community	0
Washington	Yakama Indian Nation	2	We will inform the client during the intake on how to reduce their home energy consumption. We will provide pamphlets and outreach items to reduce energy usage.
Wyoming	Eastern Shoshone Tribe	5	Provide training to potential LIEAP clients to educated on basic weatherization techniques and conserve energy.
Wyoming	Northern Arapaho Tribe	0

Source: FY 2025 Model Plans

State

Tribe

% Funds

Describe