Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, community organizations, and residents, hundreds of electric fans have been collected to provide heat relief for seniors and people with disabilities.  A “Fan Fair” giveaway and resource event is scheduled for Saturday, June 8 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Edison Center, 701 W. Ormsby Ave., Louisville, KY 40203.

Fans will be available for seniors 60 and older, as well as for individuals with documented disabilities, on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Fan Fair qualifications and guidelines are as follows:

• Person 60 years or older
• Or documentation verified by a physician of a disability
• Resident of Jefferson, Oldham, Henry, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble or Bullitt Counties
• Proof of address and age
• ​One fan per household

A Prescription Drug Toss & Resource Fair will coincide with the fan giveaway event to provide basic information from local resources. Participating vendors include AARP, JenCare, Humana, Kentuckiana Regional Planning & Development Agency (KIPDA), Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services, Passport Health, Senior Medicare Patrol and several other Metro Government divisions.

The Louisville Metro Police Department will also be educating and collecting prescription drugs to properly and safely dispose of unwanted or expired prescription drugs in the home.

Fan Fair is sponsored by KIPDA Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living and Louisville Metro Office for Aging & Disabled Citizens (OADC).  These organizations joined forces in 2016 to implement a fan drive and for the first annual Fan Fair in response to the numerous calls they received requesting heat relief.

This year’s fan collection will end June 5. Drop-off donations of new box fans can be made Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at one of the following: KIPDA, 11520 Commonwealth Drive (Lou., KY 40299) or WLKY Studio, 1918 Mellwood Ave. (Lou, KY 40206).  Monetary donations are also appreciated to purchase fans and checks can be made payable to KIPDA, Attn:  Fan Fair, mailed to the address above on Commonwealth Drive, and postmarked by June 3.

To date, more than 100 fans have been donated, and more than $5000 in monetary donations have been received to purchase additional fans.  Some of the many donors include:

• AARP Kentucky
• JenCare Senior Medical Centers
• Humana
• Lowe’s
• Passport Health Plan
• Numerous individual donors

WLKY served as the media partner providing both on-air and on-line advertising to promote the fan collection and serving as one of the donation drop-off sites.  Lowe’s provided support in allowing the purchase of additional fans at cost from the monetary donations that were collected.

“The amazing generosity we’ve received again this year is evidence of the compassion and desire to take care of one’s neighbor that exists in the Louisville community,” stated Sarah Teeters, Coordinator for OADC, part of the Office of Resilience and Community Services. “We hope to offer Fan Fair every summer as long as the need and the interest continue.”

“The increased support from the business community this year has been astonishing! It shows just how much dedication our city’s professionals have towards increasing the overall health of our community,” stated Jennifer Craig, Aging and Disability Resource Specialist for KIPDA. 

For more information about the Fan Fair event, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services  or  www.KIPDA.org.

In an effort to minimize the impact of the closure of the Middletown Library, Mayor Greg Fischer, working with Councilman Markus Winkler, announced today that the branch will be able to remain open until June 19, with the exception of Monday, June 3.

The original closure date of June 3rd was scheduled to allow for adequate staff to shut down and clear out the Middletown branch before the opening of the new Northeast Regional Library. However, Councilman Winkler has offered to organize volunteers to help pack up books and library materials, freeing up library staff to continue providing regular library services to patrons.

“I am grateful for both the idea and the offer of volunteer help from Councilman Winkler to allow us to keep the Middletown Library open a little longer, as we prepare for the opening of the Northeast Regional Library,” said Mayor Fischer. “Our libraries are a critical resource for our community. During this budget challenge, the offers of help from volunteers, businesses, schools and nonprofit partners to step up and address gaps have demonstrated our community’s deep social muscle.”

While hours of operation may vary based on staff availability, patrons can continue to pick up items on hold during this time and regular access to library computers and wifi will continue. Updated information about hours will be provided via social media and on the Library website at www.lfpl.org.

“I really appreciate the work of the administration to make this happen,” said Councilman Winkler. “This is a testament to what happens when we work together for the good of our city, and I am grateful for this outcome.”

In addition, programs for children are being planned for alternate sites—allowing for “pop-up” storytimes and other summer activities—until the new Northeast Regional Library opens on June 24. These include:

Crosby Park:

• June 5th: Bookmobile visit & storytime, 10 a.m. – noon (storytime @ 10 a.m.)
• June 12th: Storytime, 10 a.m.
• June 19th: Storytime, 10 a.m.

Public Bookmobile Visits – to include materials for checkout and a summer reading program:

• June 8th, 1 – 3 p.m., Northeast Regional Library parking lot/park/porch
• June 10th, 6 – 8 p.m., Northeast Regional Library parking lot/park/porch
• June 17th, 6 – 8 p.m., Northeast Regional Library parking lot/park/porch

Closure of the Middletown and Fern Creek libraries, as well as reduced library hours countywide, were announced last month as part of Metro Government’s ongoing budget challenges, driven largely by the increase in the state pension bill and a lack of revenue from Metro Council.

Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12) is praising the efforts of Solid Waste Management Services Enforcement Officers for their work in impounding the fifth vehicle of the year involved in illegal dumping.

“SWMS Officers are to be commended for their continued enforcement of the illegal dumping ordinance approved by the Metro Council,” says Blackwell. “We want to remind everyone, if you choose to dump trash wherever you want to, it will be costly, and you will be caught.”

The impounded SUV was seen on surveillance cameras being used to dump bags of household trash and a pool liner. The dumping occurred at a business in the 6600 block of Manslick Rd on May 19th of this year.

SWMS Enforcement used the footage, eyewitnesses, and evidence in the trash bags to locate the vehicle on Tioga Rd. The individual was issued a citation totaling $500, and the owner will have to pay approximately $250 for impound and storage fees.

School is almost out for the summer, and Mayor Greg Fischer is reminding parents and caregivers that there are plenty of fun, low-cost, or free learning opportunities available for Louisville area students of all ages over the next three months.

During a news conference today at the Main Library, Mayor Greg Fischer and partner organizations outlined a number of programs designed to keep kids engaged and prevent summer learning loss, including the Louisville Free Public Library’s Summer Reading program and the 2019 Cultural Pass presented by Churchill Downs in partnership with Metro Louisville, the Free Public Library, the Arts and Culture Alliance, and Fund for the Arts.

“We’re a city of lifelong learning and that means we’re a city of year-round learning,” said Mayor Fischer. “With our Summer Reading Program, Cultural Pass and other programs, families have plenty of fun options this summer to keep kids’ minds active so they’re prepared for success in school and beyond.”

In celebration of both the Library’s Summer Reading Program and the Cultural Pass, the Mayor announced the Main Library will host the Summer Reading Kickoff and Cultural Pass Showcase on Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will offer a host of activities, performances, and crafts featuring twenty members of the Arts and Culture Alliance. Participating groups will include the Louisville Zoo, Kentucky Science Center, Frazier History Museum, Kentucky Shakespeare, and more. For more information, please visit LFPL.org/Kids or call (502) 574-1620.

The Cultural Pass supports and encourages lifelong learning by providing free access to more than 50 of Greater Louisville’s arts and cultural institutions for children and young adults to age 21. The Pass is valid from June 1 to August 10 for one-time general admission at each of the participating institutions. 

This year, residents in four surrounding counties—New Albany/Floyd County, Charlestown/Clark County, Jeffersonville Township, Harrison County, and Bullitt County—will also be eligible to participate in the 2019 Cultural Pass through their public libraries. Southern Indiana residents are eligible for the Cultural Pass thanks to support from Bales Foundation, Duke Energy, and Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County.

“Our community is fortunate to have one of the most unique initiatives across the country to fight summer learning loss,” said Tonya Abeln, Director of Community Relations for Churchill Downs, Inc. “Churchill Downs is proud to continue supporting arts and cultural experiences that make our city stronger.”

“This Cultural Pass is a passport for Greater Louisville kids and families to unlock boundless creativity at our world-class arts and cultural institutions,” said Christen Boone, Fund for the Arts President and CEO. “We are deeply grateful to our donors and partners who make this one-of-a-kind initiative possible. This is a critical investment for our region that allows kids to learn, play, and grow all summer long.” 

The 2019 Cultural Pass and Summer Reading Program materials are available beginning June 1 at any Louisville Free Public Library branch. Pass holders can register and track the progress of their Cultural Pass online at LFPL.org/culturalpass and are encouraged to visit as many venues as they are able during the summer. Children with five or more documented visits will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win prizes.

“Educators often spend the first six weeks of a new school year re-teaching skills that students learned in the previous grade before they can move on to new material” said A. Dale Josey, Chair of the Arts & Culture Alliance. “The Alliance leverages the collaborative power of the region’s arts and culture sector to counteract learning loss by keeping young minds active and engaged in the many summer activities available via the Cultural Pass. We appreciate this opportunity to harness our collective talents to host ‘fun’ arts and culture learning opportunities to somewhat minimize summer brain drain.”  

To learn more about the Cultural Pass, please visit fundforthearts.org/culturalpass.

Summer Reading

Presented by the Library Foundation, the Library’s annual Summer Reading Program is a free 10-week program that encourages kids and teens to read for fun over the summer by offering prizes and incentives. Every child—from infant through 12th grade—who completes the program will receive a pencil pouch, along with passes to local attractions like the Kentucky Science Center, Squire Boone Caverns, a Louisville Bats baseball game, McDonald’s ice cream, and more.

“Summer Reading is the Library’s longest-running and most successful program,” said Library Director Lee Burchfield. “This 90-year tradition reaches nearly 50,000 children and teens in the Metro area and helps them stay on reading level and return to school better prepared to learn.”

For more information, or to pre-register for Summer Reading, visit LFPL.org/SummerReading, or call (502) 574-1620.

Other summer programs

The Summer Reading and Cultural Pass programs complement hundreds of camps and enrichment activities organized by nonprofit organizations, Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), local colleges and universities, museums, churches, and arts organizations.

To help families sort through the many summer offerings, the Mayor reminds the community that a searchable database of quality Out of School Time (OST) programs is available through 2-1-1. Thanks to the BLOCS community partnership, families can access this resource year-round by visiting www.louisvilleblocs.org and clicking on the 2-1-1 link. The list is also available by dialing Metro United Way’s 211 call-in line, or accessing the 211 app.  BLOCS was established in 2011 by Louisville Metro Government, JCPS, Metro United Way, and the Louisville Alliance for Youth, in an effort to bridge in-school and out-of-school time, while demonstrating OST programming is a fundamental support in improving educational outcomes.

Louisville Zoo: The Louisville Zoo is a living classroom with something to learn all year long. When kids are out of school, it is the perfect place to keep minds active and engaged with amazing animal species from around the globe or one of the Zoo’s many summer camps. Weekly camps are available for ages from pre-K to 8th grade. All Zoo camps include Zoo walks, large animal presentations, attraction rides, and up-close encounters with live animal ambassadors. Events are happening all summer, from the Friday Night Movie Series to the ever-popular Storybook Character Day. All events and camp listings can be found at louisvillezoo.org.

Louisville Parks & Recreation: Louisville Parks and Recreation will be offering structured summer camp programming at six community centers this season: Beechmont, Cyril Allgeier, Douglass, South Louisville, Southwick, and Sun Valley. Pricing will remain the same as last year: Beechmont, Cyril, Douglass and Sun Valley will be $80 per week, and South Louisville and Southwick will be $65 per week.

Open programming will take place at Berrytown, Parkhill, California, Portland, Newburg, and Shawnee Community Centers. Open programming is $20 per month, and all participants must be registered.

For locations, visit bestparksever.com and contact the site of your choice for more information.

Other fun and inexpensive options during the summer for kids include the city’s 30-plus spraygrounds and spraypads, free movie nights at the Iroquois Amphitheater, hiking and camps at Jefferson Memorial Forest, and visits to the city’s two Metro-owned historic homes, Riverside, the Farnsley-Moremen Landing, and Historic Locust Grove.

Additionally, Louisville Parks and Recreation is looking to hire responsible, motivated high school and college-aged students during the summer to help with summer camp staffing. Please call (502) 574-7275 for more information or drop by the Parks office at 1297 Trevilian Way to fill out an application.

Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods

The Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods Outreach Team will be holding regular office hours at the Shawnee Arts and Cultural Center this summer. They will connect with partners to bring resources to support employment, housing, expungement, mental health, etc. to residents in the neighborhood to eliminate access-related barriers. The team will continue to canvass, conduct peace walks, table events, attend neighborhood association meetings, and more.

OSHN is partnering with Cities United to host a “Russell Family Block Party” Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

OSHN will continue hosting One Love Louisville Ambassador Institutes and Networking Nights. The next free Ambassador Institute will be Saturday, June 22, at 9:30 a.m. Come learn about conflict resolution, community organizing, and more.

The One Love Louisville Implementation Team meetings will continue into the summer; our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 25, at 5:30 p.m. in the Mayor’s office. We will be reviewing the city’s violence reduction action plan and discussing ways that you can get involved.

We are recruiting for the next cohort of One Love Louisville Youth Implementation Team members. This is a youth leadership advisory council to Mayor Fischer for ages 16 to 24 with a focus on advocacy and civic engagement. Please contact OSHN for more details.

We are also recruiting for the next cohort of THRIVE Fellows. This fellowship seeks young men who are interested in leadership, civic engagement, and public service. If you are between the ages of 22 and 26, and have a history of being justice-involved, please contact OSHN for more details.

This summer we will be recruiting for the Trauma Resilient Community Advisory Board. This advisory board will work to guide this initiative over the 5-year project period. Board members will participate in strategic planning and ongoing decision making as Louisville becomes a more equitable, trauma-resilient city.

Please follow Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods on Facebook and Twitter to stay engaged and for opportunities to #BeThe1. We can be reached at (502) 574-1903 or at OneLoveLou.org.

Afternoon Lecture Series
Dr. Richard Bell: The African American Revolution
Wednesday, June 5, 1:15 pm

We all know that the American Revolution was about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But what did those slogans mean to black people caught up in that war? Historian Richard Bell explains that African Americans actually threw themselves into the war effort with more enthusiasm (and with more at stake) than did many white colonists. Stories like theirs beg us to think about the stakes of the American Revolution from their perspective and to wonder just how revolutionary the American Revolution was for people of color.

The Locust Grove Afternoon Lecture Series is held the first Wednesday of each month. Dessert and coffee are served at 1:00 pm with the lecture immediately following at 1:15 pm. Admission is $6, $4 for Friends of Historic Locust Grove. Reservations are not required.
Part of The Age of Hamilton series at Locust Grove.

Hamilton: How the Musical Remixes American History
Thursday, June 6, 6:30 pm

Louisville has Hamilton-mania! As this Tony-Award winning musical rolls into town, its crafty lyrics, hip-hop tunes, and big, bold story have even rejuvenated interest in the real lives and true histories that Hamilton: An American Musical puts center stage.

In this talk, historian Dr. Richard Bell explores this musical phenomenon to reveal what its success tells us about the marriage of history and show-business. We’ll learn what this amazing musical got right and got wrong about Alexander Hamilton, the American Revolution, and the birth of the United States and about why that matters. We’ll examine some of the choices Hamilton’s creators made to simplify, dramatize, and humanize the complicated events and stories on which the show is based. We’ll also talk about Hamilton’s cultural impact: what does its runaway success reveal about the stories we tell each other about who we are and about the nation we made?

Tickets: $15/$12 for Locust Grove members. Reservations required; call 502-897-9845. Admission includes one drink ticket; cash bar available.

Part of The Age of Hamilton series at Locust Grove.

Hamilton Fest!
Sunday, June 16, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm

Join us for the conclusion of our Age of Hamilton season with The Hamilton Festival! This celebration of the Revolution will feature a re-creation of the Hamilton-Burr Duel, a sing-a-long, student performances, and presentations on clothing of the period, Aaron Burr’s time in Louisville, and more. 

Admission: $8 for adults/$4 for children 12-6/free for under 6

Part of The Age of Hamilton series at Locust Grove.

Special Exhibition
Alexander Hamilton: Immigrant, Patriot, Visionary
Wednesday, May 29 – Friday, July 5

This exhibition from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History examines Hamilton’s central role during the Revolutionary War and Founding period in creating the economic, constitutional, social, journalistic, political, and foreign policy templates for modern America. Using reproductions from the Gilder Lehrman Collection and the Library of the New-York Historical Society, and drawing on recent scholarship about Alexander Hamilton, this traveling exhibition helps students learn that Hamilton was a statesman and visionary whose life shaped the America we live in two hundred years after his death. On view daily: May 29 – July 5, 2019

Books, Prints, Paper, and Art Sale
Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, June 30
10:00 am – 4:30 pm

This special show and sale includes dealers in used, new, and collectible books, as well as maps, prints, paper, and art, at all prices and in all categories. You’ll find books about collecting, art, decorative arts, architecture and design, as well as artwork and prints.

Saturday, June 29, 10 AM – 4:30 PM (Free admission) Sunday, June 30, 10 AM – 4:30 pm (With Antiques Market; $8 admission charged)

Summer Antiques Market
Sunday, June 30
10:00 am – 4:30 pm

Treasures from bygone centuries abound at this favorite summer sale, from delicate china teapots to silver spoons, vintage jewelry to Kentucky-made chairs—there’s something for all tastes and every budget, etc. Featuring dozens of professional dealers from around the region, the Antiques Market offers fine and country furniture, books, textiles, jewelry, ephemera, silver, and more. Admission includes tours of the historic house museum. Fine food & drink available. $8 adults; children under 12 free.

Locust Grove is located at 561 Blankenbaker Lane (between Brownsboro Road and River Road), Louisville, KY 40207.

With the help of local partners, a major donation from The Papa John’s Foundation For Building Community and a contribution from former University of Louisville and current Atlanta Falcons player Jamon Brown’s foundation, Mayor Greg Fischer today announced a plan for summer swimming alternatives for youth and families in the Louisville area.

The plan includes 10 community swim events at two YMCA of Greater Louisville locations, structured swims at Central High School’s pool, and daily community swim sessions at The Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center – along with transportation options for those who otherwise would have trouble getting to the pools.

The four outdoor pools typically operated by Louisville Parks and Recreation – Norton (Camp Taylor), Algonquin, Sun Valley and Nelson Hornbeck (Fairdale) – will not be open this year due to budget cuts caused by the pension crisis and the Metro Council vote in March against new revenue sources.

After hearing that, Papa John’s CEO Steve Ritchie reached out to ask how his team could help. Representatives for Brown, a Louisville native and Fern Creek High School alum, soon joined the cause. And after gathering feedback from past and future users of the four pools, Louisville Parks and Recreation worked with partners — the YMCA, Jefferson County Public Schools and TARC — to develop the alternative plan for the summer.

“I am so pleased that The Papa John’s Foundation For Building Community and Jamon Brown stepped up to help us provide swimming opportunities for our community this summer,” said Mayor Fischer. “We’re facing a challenging time in our city, but great leaders solve challenges. We are grateful for the partners who’ve stepped in to help ensure a fun summer for children and families in the absence of our four outdoor pools.”

Papa John’s donation of $90,000 through The Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community, along with the $5,000 donation from the Jamon Brown Foundation and a matching $5,000 donation from the Atlanta Falcons, will be used for pool operations, including lifeguards.

“Just like pizza, pools are a key ingredient to summertime fun. We wanted to make sure that kids and their families across Louisville would have access to that summer experience, despite the tough choices Mayor Fischer and Metro Government are facing right now. We are honored to be able to offer our support with this donation from The Papa John’s Foundation for Building Community,” said Steve Ritchie, Papa John’s President and CEO. “I am excited to partner with Papa John’s, JCPS, TARC and YMCA to assist our youth with constructive activity this summer that also aligns with the Healthy Living aspect of our Foundation’s mission,” Brown said. “I am also grateful to the Atlanta Falcons organization for matching my donation to the children in my hometown, of which I love dearly. I can’t wait to get back home after camp to have a swim party with our youth!”

YMCA CEO Steve Tarver said, “Safe opportunities for swimming are important for everyone. We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Metro Louisville to continue to make options available for safe summer aquatic activities.”

Specifics of the plan:

• Beginning June 8, the Southwest and Downtown YMCAs will host 10 community swim events — five at the Southwest YMCA, 2801 Fordhaven Road, and five at the Downtown YMCA, 555 S. Second St.
  • Southwest YMCA
    • Saturday, June 15th from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
    • Saturday, June 29th from 3:30- 6:30 p.m.
    • Saturday, July 13th from 3:30- 6:30 p.m.
    • Friday, July 26th from 5:30- 830 p.m.
    • Friday, August 9th from 5:30- 830 p.m.
  • Downtown YMCA
    • Saturday, June 8th from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
    • Sunday, June 23rd from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
    • Sunday, July 7th from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
    • Sunday, July 21st from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
    • Sunday, August 4th from 3:30-6:30 p.m. 
  • Fees are $3/person 14 years and over & $2/youth 13 and under. Vouchers for the summer swim events can be purchased at Metro Parks Administrative Offices, 1297 Trevilian Way; at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center, 201 Reservoir Avenue starting Monday, June 3; or at the YMCA, beginning 30 minutes before the start of the event. Capacity for these events is 100 people/event.

• A partnership with JCPS will allow for structured program swims at Central High School’s pool, 1130 Chestnut St., beginning June 14. These four-hour sessions on Fridays and Saturdays will host summer camps, community organizations and individuals interested in swim lessons. Group rates are $2 per child. The swims are from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Friday, and from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturdays in June and July.

“As a school district, we are always looking to support our students throughout the year.  I am happy to open our facilities and create opportunities for great summer experiences for children.  This is another example of what is possible when we can come together as a community,” said Dr. Marty Pollio, Superintendent of JCPS.

Interested organizations should call the Parks and Recreation main office at (502) 574- 7275 for additional information.

• The Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center will host daily open community swims beginning June 10. The hours are Monday-Thursday from noon-4 p.m.; Friday from 12-8 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from noon-4 p.m. Normal pricing applies.

Realizing that transportation may be a barrier for children and families seeking the opportunity for one of these three options, Louisville Parks and Recreation is also working with TARC to provide rides to swim sites for those without access to a vehicle. For more information, please call Parks at (502) 574-7275.

Citing process improvements that created efficiencies and increased accessibility, the Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services announced this week that the number of low-income households helped by the city’s LIHEAP Program (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) grew by 1,249 in the most recent program year, which ended April 30.

In all, 15,088 households, received more than $4.5 million in benefits to help cover essential utilities.

Louisville residents living at or below 130% of the federal poverty line rely on LIHEAP to help cover costly home energy bills and to help with the prevention of loss and the restoration of home energy services. The vast majority of recipient households have at least one “vulnerable” member, containing children, elderly or people with disabilities.

Resilience and Community Services, the agency that administers LIHEAP, teamed up with the Louisville Metro Office of Performance Improvement & Innovation (OPI2) in 2016 to work through the Lean process improvement methodology, identifying areas of waste or inefficiency, generating solutions and prioritizing according to impact and feasibility.  These improvements led to an increased in number of households served compared to the operations in previous years.

The first and most significant area of improvement was the launch of an automated telephone and online system for residents in 2016 to make required in-person appointments for LIHEAP assistance requestors.  In previous years, LIHEAP assistance requestors were required to make two trips to RCS staff to apply for LIHEAP assistance—- first to sign up for appointments and later to complete their applications.  

Also in 2016, LIHEAP locations were expanded from three to six sites.

Other incremental improvements include:

• All LIHEAP staff now have laptops
• All workstations now have scanners
• A central electronic storage space for documents
• A simple staff training manual
• A customer experience survey

These multiple process improvements have greatly increased efficiency in the LIHEAP process, resulting in:

• 7,448 more LIHEAP applications being processed in 2018-2019 compared with the 2015-2016 LIHEAP season
• 75 percent of 2017-2018 LIHEAP survey respondents reported a “much better” experience compared to previous years
• The application process – previously a multi-day endeavor – now takes an average of 22 to 25 minutes from the moment a resident arrives at a local LIHEAP site.

“We have made significant process improvements over the last three years with the help of Louisville Metro’s OPI2”, said Brandon O’Neal, program supervisor for LIHEAP, part of Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services.  “These efforts have resulted in greater program capacity and improved service for low-income households seeking assistance.”

Another notable enhancement  made in early 2018 with the support of community advocates was the expansion of eligibility of the LIHEAP Crisis Component.  Residents who received a utility bill with a past due amount are now able to apply for assistance during this phase, in addition to continuing to serve those who receive a disconnect notice.  Also, due to the proven success of the LIHEAP automated appointment system, the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program) adopted a similar system for residents seeking free tax preparation assistance.

“From Day One of my administration, we’ve focused on finding ways to provide the best possible services in the most efficient manner possible,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “The work our Office of Resilience and Community Services team has done to make it easier for residents to get the assistance they need is a prime example. I want to also send a shout out to the Office of Performance Improvement & Innovation for providing their expertise and hard work to make this program easier for residents in need and more efficient for their Louisville Metro colleagues. OPI2 is nationally recognized for its work to make services better and government more efficient; now more than ever, that’s vital work.

LIHEAP is a seasonal program that is expected to reopen in the fall, pending federal funding.  Stay tuned to https://louisvilleky.gov/government/resilience-and-community-services/low-income-home-energy-assistance-program-liheap for future updates. 

Residents who are currently in need of utility assistance are encouraged to call their local Community Ministry or Neighborhood Place.  Call Metro United Way’s 2-1-1 help referral service or Metro311 to locate the nearest site.