Percentage of Income Payment Plan Model (PIPP)

Shelley Morgan, State of Arizona Department of Economic Security

Background

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a utility assistance program geared towards low-income households to help them pay for heating/cooling bills, and make energy costs more affordable. It is important to target the limited resources towards the most vulnerable households in the state.
 

Research question

Can LIHEAP be more sustainable for clients at the current allocation level?

Methods and findings

So far there has been a marked increase of household seeking assistance who are at the 75–125 % of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
 

Partners

  • Graduate students and outside agencies for data collection and sorting

  • The Department of Economic Security and the Utility Vendors

Deliverables

Read Morgan's research briefing paper, co-authored with our Associate Director for Broader Impacts, Dr. Lora Phillips, on ASU KEEP:

Shelley Morgan

A Portrait of Shelley Morgan

Community Services Program Manager

Arizona Department of Economic Security

Community Fellow, 2019

Shelley Morgan joined the Division of Aging and Adult Service as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Program Coordinator for the state of Arizona in November of 2017. LIHEAP is a Federally-funded program that helps low-income households pay their heating/cooling bills, minimize crises, and make energy costs more affordable. Shelley has always been in people centered roles in both the public and private sector. Shelley has been focusing on coordinating LIHEAP policy revisions and development, LIHEAP state plan updates, training for LIHEAP program partners and various other duties as program coordinator. Shelley previously worked for Arizona State University, U.S. Department of Education and in the private sector.