Just before a historic winter storm, an Oklahoma mother of four young children reached out in need of emergency energy assistance. Her electricity had been disconnected and she was facing a bill she had no way of paying while also dealing with a medical situation within her family.

The University of Oklahoma and Adult and Family Services (AFS) Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) teams jumped into action and, before noon the same day, helped the customer obtain a medical certificate to help her family out of the immediate crisis, and advised her about how to submit a Life-Threatening Energy Crisis Assistance Program (ECAP) referral for the future if she was within 72 hours of facing a disconnection. This team effort helped ensure this mother was able to keep her family warm and safe when they needed it most.

“Home heating during the winter months, as well as cooling in the summer time, are crucial for the well-being and safety of Oklahomans, especially with the extreme weather we have in Oklahoma,” said Matt Conley, Program Manager for LIHEAP and SNAP. “The Adult and Family Services LIHEAP staff and the University of Oklahoma team are dedicated and committed social service professionals. They display this professionalism each day with every customer they encounter to assist them with life saving energy assistance.”

In State Fiscal Year 2020, nearly 66,000 low-income households were kept warm thanks to the LIHEAP program. Over 66,000 received summer cooling assistance. LIHEAP provides winter heating, energy crisis and summer cooling assistance to eligible low-income households during specific application periods throughout the year.

The application period for ECAP will open soon and will be announced through a news release and OKDHS social media. Please watch this page for more information and to learn how to make application.

Do you have a HOPE hero story you'd like us to share? Email it to hopeheroes@okdhs.org.