Being able to stay warm during the cold winters is something most of us take for granted. Unfortunately, for far too many people in our state, being able to maintain a comfortable temperature in their homes during winter is difficult. LIHEAP – the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) locally – helps keep families healthy and safe by aiding with the cost of heating their homes. But helping people pay the bills doesn’t just provide economic stability for those struggling to afford the basics. LEAP is an investment in Colorado.

And thanks to this investment, LEAP leads to some critical supports for the more than 70,000 Colorado families participating in the program annually:

• $41 million in direct energy assistance in 2018 alone.
• That translates to $389 per family, making a big impact on their energy bills.
• $27 million in direct economic impact and more than $100 million in economic ripple effects.

As renewed threats to LIHEAP (and programs like it) emerge at the state and federal levels, it’s more important than ever to establish a clear and common understanding of why it exists, how it is funded and administered, who is eligible to enroll, and how it impacts Colorado’s economy.

This issue brief highlights why utility assistance matters so much to Colorado families and communities. LEAP doesn’t just help those who are eligible to enroll in the program get the assistance they need, it also helps counteract the effects of economic downturns and recessions, which helps everyone who calls Colorado home.

This brief is part of a more comprehensive report detailing the expansive impact of programs, such as SNAP, TANF, Medicaid and Medicare. These critical tools for lifting people out of poverty are too often discussed in the context of funding cuts. At their core, they represent vital public investments helping otherwise struggling families make ends meet.

If you want to do your part to protect these important tools, there are three things you can do:

1. Follow the Colorado Fiscal Institute on Facebook and Twitter and share this report with your friends and followers there (be sure to tag us when you do).
2. Contact your Congressional representatives to tell them these programs matter for Colorado families. They should protect them both for Coloradans in need, and for the health of our economy.  
3. Find out when your member of Congress or your senators are holding a public forum where you can make your voice heard about this important issue.