Office of Family Empowerment: ofeinfo@chattanooga.gov

Office: 423-643-6434

The mission of the Office of Family Empowerment is to change the lives of Hamilton County residents by collaborating with our partners to provide support and coaching to help individuals achieve well-being and economic independence.

If you have received our services, please complete our customer survey by clicking here!

While our focus has shifted to case management, we still offer some emergency assistance (with rent, mortgage, or utilities) for those experiencing a crisis by appointment only. Contact our office to learn more about emergency assistance programs! 

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Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

REQUIREMENTS

2023-2024 LIHEAP APPLICATION

SPANISH REQUIREMENTS

2023-2024 aplicación en español

The Office of Family Empowerment is home to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Hamilton County, which provides assistance for income-eligible families to help in meeting rising home energy costs. Assistance may be received only once per program year and is applied directly to the applicant's account with the energy provider.

Eligibility

Each program requires that the household meets established income requirements. The current LIHEAP program year runs October 1 - September 30. You can apply for your one-time benefit one of two ways: through Regular LIHEAP or Crisis LIHEAP.

Regular LIHEAP: provides assistance to any household in Hamilton County that has an active utility account (for longer than 28 days).

You can print off the application and attach all requirements to it and turn it in to our office one of many ways:

MAIL IN/ DROP IT OFF:                       FAX:                                 EMAIL:

6098 Debra Rd                                    423-643-6439                 liheap@chattanooga.gov

Chattanooga TN 37411

Once you apply, you will receive a letter in the mail within 4-6 weeks stating if you were approved, denied or if your application is pending. If approved, a credit will be applied directly to your account.

For your convenience, all completed energy assistance applications, along with supporting documents, can be emailed to LIHEAP@chattanooga.gov. Please note that all emailed applications are unsecured and you should always use your discretion when sending personal information online. You may also email LIHEAP@chattanooga.gov to request that an application be sent to you via email or postal mail or to ask for assistance with your application.

If further assistance is needed, call our office and leave a message at (423) 643-6434 and your call will be returned within 24 hours. It is our goal to provide you with information and resources as quickly as possible.

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Before submitting an application, please note that the last 30 days of income is calculated when applying for assistance. Therefore, if you lost your job last week, you may not meet income eligibility. You must provide documentation of income loss (i.e. employer separation letter).

Coming up for the 2023-2024 LIHEAP year:  

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OFE IN YOUR COMMUNITY!

Staff at the Office of Family Empowerment (OFE) are taking their talents on the road and into the community centers! Representatives are setting up at selected community centers once a month to help residents with all services they provide. Stop by to talk with a representative about your case or apply for assistance. See schedule below: 

Avondale Community Center: Every Third Thursday 

Thursday, February 15, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, March 21, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, April 18, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, May 16, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, June 20, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, July 18, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, August 15, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, September 19, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, October 17, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, November 21, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, December 19, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Westside Community Center: Every Second Thursday 

Thursday, February 8, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, March 14, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, April 11, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, May 9, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, June 13, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, July 11, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, August 8, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, September 12, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, October 10, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, November 14, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, December 12, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

East Lake Community Center: Every Third Tuesday 

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, May 21, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, June 18, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, July 16, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, September 17, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, October 15, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Glenwood Community Center: Every First Tuesday 

Tuesday, February 6, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, March 5, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, June 4, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, July 2, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, September 3, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, October 1, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, November 5, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Northside Neighborhood House: Every Fourth Tuesday 

Tuesday, February 27, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, April 23, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, June 25, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, July 23, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, August 27, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, September 24, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, October 22, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, November 26, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 10:30 am - 2:30 pm

Shepherd Community Center: Every First Thursday 

Thursday, February 1, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, March 7, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, April 4, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, May 2, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, June 6, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Tuesday, July 4, 2023 Holiday

Thursday, August 1, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, September 5, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, October 3, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, November 7, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday, December 5, 2024 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm

South Chattanooga Community Center: Every Second Tuesday 

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, July 9, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, November 12, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, December 10, 2024 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

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Family Support Programs

The Office of Family Empowerment offers different levels of case management. If you are interested in reaching the goal of self-sufficiency, call our office at (423) 643-6434.

Self-Sufficiency Case Management: This is a goal-based program that provides life skills training, coaching, and financial support to low- to moderate-income residents in Hamilton County. Participants seeking to obtain the skills and knowledge to help their families become self-sufficient are provided with community resources, educational opportunities, individual support, and access to valuable workshops and training opportunities. Commitment is six months to one year.

We also offer the Family Empowerment Program. This is an intensive, two-year case management program that uses evidence-based practices to support participants with wraparound services as they work towards their goals. Participants in this program are paired with a mentor, called a Family Coach, who encourages them on their journey through the program. Participants are also required to participate in a variety of classes and workshops, including classes on financial literacy, leadership and advocacy, energy efficiency, tech literacy, and more!