The Douglas-Cherokee Economic Authority announced that due to changes at the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, the 2026 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will begin later than usual this year.

The start date for the 2026 LIHEAP assistance will be November 1, 2025. DCEA County Offices will be closed from Wednesday, October 1 to Friday, October 3 to prepare for the changeover.

Applications for the 2026 LIHEAP program will not be distributed or accepted before November 1. This delay is due to a database transfer and the timing of funds release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

It is important to know that LIHEAP has not been cut and that funds will be available for November.

LIHEAP is a federally funded program that assists low-income households with their

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