Get Help with Winter Heating Bills: Apply for Fuel Assistance through April 30!

The Cambridge Fuel Assistance Program is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 heating season. The program, also known as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), helps income-eligible residents in Cambridge and Somerville pay their winter heating bills between November 1 and April 30. Renters and homeowners in both cities are eligible to apply if they meet federal income guidelines. Fuel Assistance applications will be accepted through April 30, 2024. 

Over the past five years, the Fuel Assistance program has distributed more than $4.9 million in heating bill assistance to Cambridge and Somerville residents.

More than 1,860 clients who previously participated in the program were mailed instructions to reapply to the program. New and returning applicants can apply for Fuel Assistance online and must submit their supporting documentation in one of the following ways: 

• Upload to the Fuel Assistance online portal

• Mail to: Fuel Assistance c/o City of Cambridge Dept of Human Service Programs, 51 Inman St. Cambridge, MA 02139 

• Email to: dhspfuel@cambridgema.gov

• Drop off at the Fuel Assistance office (51 Inman St., Basement Level, Cambridge, MA 02139) or in the Fuel Assistance dropbox located outside of the Basement Level entrance of 51 Inman St. on Inman Place.  

Fuel Assistance staff review and process applications on a rolling basis. Spanish-speaking staff are available to assist applicants, and additional language support can be provided. In-person appointments are also available upon request, and staff make home visits to applicants who are homebound and need support completing their application.  

“Our team reviews every application to ensure that eligible households receive the maximum amount of financial benefit available to them,” said Claudia Cruz, Director of the Fuel Assistance Program. “We also refer clients to other programs to help them save money on their utility bills.” 

The Fuel Assistance Program serves as a gateway for clients to access additional utility and energy efficiency benefits offered through other agencies. Fuel Assistance staff connect eligible clients to programs that provide gas and electric bill discounts, weatherization improvements like insulation and sealing, the state’s Heating System Repair and Replacement Program, and more.  

Eligible applicants in no-heat situations or who are facing immediate utility shutoff can receive fuel assistance within 24 hours.  

To check the status of an application or report a no-heat situation, call 617-665-6234. For more information about the program, visit www.cambridgema.gov/FuelAssistance.