Rockford Sun

This week, the City of Rockford Health & Human Services Department will hold outreach sessions for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at two locations. The first session is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, at Loves Park City Hall/Community Room, 100 Heart Blvd, Loves Park. Sign-ups begin at 8:45 a.m., and appointments start at 9 a.m. The second session will take place on Thursday, November 20, at Brooke Road United Methodist Church Community Center, 1404 Brooke Rd, Rockford. Sign-ups and appointment times are the same as the first event.

Residents attending these sessions must bring specific documents to their appointments. Required items include a government or school-issued ID for every household member over 18 years old, Social Security cards for all household members (or birth certificates for children under six months), proof of income from the past 30 days for everyone aged 18 and older—including wages, benefits, unemployment, or cash wages—and proof of income for children receiving child support or Social Security. Applicants should also bring copies of current utility bills or a lease if utilities are included in rent and provide an email address to receive updates about their application status.

According to city officials, demand for LIHEAP assistance remains high. In the program’s first month this year, staff processed more than 2,200 applications and received over 15,000 calls—more than double September’s volume. To manage this demand and continue processing existing applications efficiently, each outreach event will offer only 50 appointment slots. Once these slots are filled, sign-ups will close for that day. All applicants must have complete documentation to secure an appointment.

The City of Rockford Health & Human Services Department asks residents to be patient with staff and other community members during these events. "Aggressive or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated," officials stated.

LIHEAP is managed by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity with funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; it is administered locally by the City of Rockford Health & Human Services Department.