Notice of Public Hearing on the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs

  • Posted on: 07/27/2026

NJ State Plan and Grant Application for Program Year 2026 for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Please take notice that the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Housing and Community Resources, Office of Low-Income Energy Conservation, will conduct a Stakeholder Public Hearing regarding the New Jersey Model Plan for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' FFY 2027 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and changes to the State LIHEAP Handbook.

The purpose of this Public Hearing is to accept comments on the following proposed changes to the program and to include the changes in the State LIHEAP Handbook.

  1. Emergency Assistance (Repairs and Replacements) – Agencies must obtain prior approval from the Office of Home Energy Assistance before commencing any furnace repair or replacement work. 
  2. Benefit Amounts – Maintain benefit amounts at the current levels.
  3. Income Eligibility – Maintain the income eligibility threshold at 60% of the State Median Income (SMI).
  4. Non-Heating Electric Benefit – No additional changes are proposed, as this benefit has already been incorporated into the FY2027 State LIHEAP Handbook.
  5. Lease Verification Policy – Accept residential leases that expired within the previous six months when accompanied by a current rent receipt or canceled check.
  6. Household Composition Policy – Implement a new protocol for households that are no longer part of a previously benefited household. These households will be required to verify their current residence, such as a new lease agreement or a current utility bill, to establish eligibility at their new address.


The public hearing will be held in Room 129 of the DCA Building, located at 101 South Broad Street, Trenton, NJ 08625, on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Please indicate your interest in participating by emailing fidel.ekhelar@dca.nj.gov before the close of business on Friday, July 31, 2026.

The Public Hearing is being held pursuant to Section 2605 of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 as amended by the Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1986.

The Model Plan and State LIHEAP Handbook have been posted on the Department’s website and can be accessed by using the following links:


Those interested in providing input during the Meeting are required to submit a written copy of their comments before the meeting.

Additional comments for consideration may be submitted by mailing the document to the address listed below.
To ensure timely receipt, submissions must arrive by the close of business on Friday, July 31, 2026.

Department of Community Affairs
Division of Housing and Community Resources
Office of Home Energy Assistance
Fidel Ekhelar, LIHEAP Supervisor
101 South Broad Street, P.O. Box 811 Trenton, NJ 08625-0811

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