Tuesday January 27, 2026
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The funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program were exhausted this year earlier than usual, following high demand and steps taken by the Office of Resilience and Community Services (RCS) to make requesting easier for qualified residents.
This year, an average of $225 were provided to more than 9,000 Louisville households during the LIHEAP Crisis phase, which pays late heating bills of low-income residents directly to service providers. In total, RCS distributed over $2.5 million in LIHEAP Crisis funds to low-income Louisville residents.
The LIHEAP Crisis phase closed the afternoon of Wednesday, March 7.
The 2018 LIHEAP Crisis component began on Jan. 8 and operated on a first come, first serve basis. In recent years, the program extended through the end of March to help low-income residents during the coldest months. The program is designed particularly to assist those who pay a high proportion of their household income toward home energy.
To ease the process for residents to request LIHEAP assistance, the Office of Resilience and Community Services in 2016 launched an automated telephone and online system for residents to make required in-person appointments for LIHEAP assistance requestors. In previous years, LIHEAP assistance requestors were required to make two trips to Community Services 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, including four Neighborhood Place locations.
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 MetroCall 311 to locate the nearest site.
Residents who are currently disconnected from services with their utility provider can walk into any of the six LIHEAP locations now through March 16, Monday through Thursday, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. and from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. and will be seen upon availability. No LIHEAP funding will be allocated for these disconnected households, but staff will contact LG&E to see if clients are eligible for payment arrangements.
Starting March 19 through March 30, those individuals who have been disconnected can walk into one of these three LIHEAP locations: Newburg Community Center, South Central Neighborhood Place and Ujima Neighborhood Place. The same hours and criteria listed above apply including no LIHEAP funding will be allocated at this time.
The six LIHEAP locations are as follows:
- Northwest Neighborhood Place/Academy at Shawnee, 4018 W Market St., 40212
- South Central Neighborhood Place, 4255 Hazelwood Ave., 40215
- Neighborhood Place Ujima/Duvalle Education Center, 3610 Bohne Ave., 40211
- Neighborhood Place/Bridges of Hope, 1411 Algonquin Pkwy., 40210
- Newburg Community Center/East, 4810 Exeter Ave, 40218
- Southwest Government Center/Dixie Highway location. 7219 Dixie Highway, 40258
“LIHEAP is a critical program for thousands of Louisville families”, said Gena Redmon, director of Resilience and Community Services. “We’re proud to be able to streamline the process of applying for this vital assistance and we’ll continue to look for more ways to streamline Metro Government processes so we can serve citizens with even greater efficiency.”
LIHEAP is a seasonal program which is anticipated 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.
Louisville Metro is among five recipients of the Smart Cities Council’s 2018 Readiness Challenge Grants, which will provide mentoring and tailored products and services to accelerate the city’s smart city initiatives.
“We’re so pleased to see the strides cities have made since we launched the Challenge last year,” said Jennifer James, Global Director of the Smart Cities Council Readiness Program™. “The entrants are knowledgeable and committed, and they have large ambitions. They are moving beyond the ‘pilot phase’ to deploy strategic, at-scale programs that will generate lasting benefits.”
Noting that Louisville has long been at the forefront of civic technology and understands that smart cities require smart infrastructure, the Council said it would help the city enhance its collaborative approach in using smart technologies to address challenges in transportation, telecommunications and public safety.
Mayor Greg Fischer said: “A world-class city has to be positioned to understand and adapt to the world around us, especially in the fast-moving realm of technology. That’s why our city’s Office for Civic Innovation has worked so diligently on projects like attracting Google Fiber and working with the app IFTTT to sync city data with smartphone apps, and smart devices, like internet-enabled light bulbs. It’s also why they’re focused on ensuring Louisville’s bright digital future is inclusive of all citizens, no matter the neighborhood they can home. This partnership with the Smart Cities Council will help us take even more big leaps into the future.
The other winning communities are Birmingham, Ala., Cary, N.C., Las Vegas, and the commonwealth of Virginia.
“The five winners had three important things in common,” said Smart Cities Council Chairman Jesse Berst, “including a focus on uncovering synergies and cost-efficiencies between departments. They also fostered coordinated collaboration between internal departments, external stakeholders, and nearby regions. Finally, they exhibited a determination to include underserved and vulnerable populations.”
The five Challenge Grant winners will receive a full year of expert, vendor-neutral mentoring, plus an on-site Readiness Workshop, custom-tailored to each community’s needs and priorities. The Council will bring in some of the world’s most experienced experts from the private, philanthropic, academic and research sectors to help advise the winners.
The Council will take the information it receives from each workshop and develop a shareable Readiness Roadmap that provides guidance for the community’s smart city program implementation. The winners will also receive free products and services worth hundreds of thousands from leading organizations and Smart Cities Council partners, including Qualcomm, Battelle, SYNEXXUS, CompTIA and IES.
All applicants will receive feedback and guidance from the Council, including the runner-up cities of Albuquerque, N.M.; Aurora, Ill.; Fairfax County, Va.; and Los Angeles. As part of this program, the Council also awarded Puerto Rico with a special humanitarian grant to help accelerate its hurricane recovery efforts.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio announced today that Kymberly “Kym” Rice has been named the new principal of the Academy @ Shawnee. Rice will begin leading the school on March 19.
“Kym is a tireless leader who is passionate about providing educational supports for students and ensuring that every child is engaged and feels a sense of belonging,” Dr. Pollio said. “She has a proven record of successful school turnaround work, and I know that great things are in store for Shawnee as she engages with families, staff and stakeholders to reimagine the opportunities available for students.”
Rice currently serves as the principal for Western Middle School for the Arts (WMSFA), where she’s worked to transform the instruction, expectations, culture and climate over the past five years. Staff and coworkers describe her as a tireless advocate for students.
“It was a difficult decision to leave WMSFA where we’ve had tremendous success, but those who know me best know that my work is a calling, and I feel led to impact the lives of even more students at Shawnee,” Rice said. “I look forward to partnering with the Shawnee community to create a new map for improvement and growth at this historic institution.”
Before leading WMSFA, Rice worked as a turnaround expert for the Kentucky Department of Education.
In Rice’s absence, assistant superintendent Michelle Dillard will work alongside retired administrator Betty Graham to oversee day-to-day operations at WMSFA until the end of the year. A new principal will be named this summer.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
Councilman Vitalis Lanshima is encouraging people all over District 21 to come together and help with neighborhood cleanups on Saturday March 10th.
“This is a great opportunity for everyone to show their civic and neighborhood pride and engage other residents in the community,” says Lanshima. “We all want to make our neighborhoods great places to live and it begins when we all work together.”
The cleanups are in collaboration with Brightside neighborhood cleanups and provide a way for community members to help keep neighborhoods lean and green.
Sign up your family, church group, school, sports team, business, community group, neighborhood association, etc.
The District 21 Office will coordinate with Brightside to provide gloves, trash bags, brooms, rakes, shovels, and t-shirts.
SIGN UP HERE: https://goo.gl/p2RSfM
Register a team of 3 or more individuals or sign yourself up
Indicate which location you plan to target your cleanup efforts at the following sites:
- I-264 Ramp & 3rd Street
- 3rd Street – South
- Taylor Blvd-South
- I-264 Ramp & Southern Parkway
- Taylor Blvd-Palatka
- Southern Parkway-South
- 3rd Street by Rutherford
- Elementary & Value Market
- I-264 Ramp & Taylor Boulevard
- Preston Hwy by Wesley House
For more information, contact Councilman Lanshima’s office at 574-1121.
Construction will soon get underway on a $330,000 project for new restrooms and other utility services for the people who use Waverly Park in Southwestern Metro Louisville.
“This is a great day for the families and neighbors who use Waverly Park for fun, exercise and recreation,” says Councilman David Yates (D-25). “Waverly Park attracts people from all over the city and state to traverse our spectacular mountain biking trails but I hope today’s investment will show them this park has much more to offer.”
Councilman Yates, along with other Council members and Louisville Parks and Recreation, officially broke ground on the project on Wednesday. The Councilman secured the funding to move this phase of the project forward.
“Waverly Park is one of the true destination parks within our collection, and we’re pleased that this work is under way,” said Parks and Recreation Director Seve Ghose. “These added amenities should help make the experience, whether it be fishing, biking, hiking or relaxing, more enjoyable.”
The $330,000 project includes civil/architectural designs and new utility services to bring both water and electrical service into the park. A new water fountain for both man and his best friend in front of the Waverly Dog Park is now operational and the new restroom will also feature two water fountains. Work includes walking paths and parking spaces.
Over the years, working with Louisville Parks and Recreation, Councilman Yates has managed to secure funding for a dog park and better parking. A water line was installed in 2017. It was funded in the budget and is fully operational. The next project will be to replace the rotted dock that was removed from Waverly Lake with a new fishing dock in the future. The Councilman is working to ensure there is funding in the upcoming budget for that project.
“I want to thank all those who have supported our efforts in Waverly Park. Like so many of the parks in our system, this is one more reason why the Southend is a wonderful place to live,” said Yates.
For more information about the improvements at Waverly Park, contact Councilman Yates office at 574-1125.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) will open the application period for prospective charter schools on April 16 when it releases its Request for Charter School Applications (RFCSA). The 60-day application period, for schools looking to open in the 2019/20 school year, will run through June 15.
Potential applicants are encouraged to take advantage of technical assistance opportunities offered by JCPS throughout the application period. Each application will be reviewed based on its merit against the rubric published in the RFCSA. There is no incentive in submitting an application early.
The Jefferson County RFCSA will include the Kentucky Charter School Application as well as additional questions specific to community needs in Jefferson County. In addition, the RFCSA will include more information about the form, format and information required for the completion of the application.
Cassie Blausey, director of school choice for JCPS, said the district must move forward with the application process even though state funding has not yet been determined. “Charter school legislation was passed during the 2017 legislative session. As a result, all local school boards are automatically charter school authorizers and required to comply with the legislation,” she said. “The RFCSA is the board’s action to comply with the legislation.”
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact Blausey at cassiopia.blausey@jefferson.kyschools.us, or at (502) 485-3138, for more information.
Photo: Louisville Metro Housing Authority
The Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund (LAHTF) has announced the allocation of FY18 funds. LAHTF allocated about $8.76 million to 22 different projects which will assist in the creation or preservation of 1,115 units to projects in 8 Metro Council Districts.
Because of Trust Fund dollars, 775 of these units will be updated and upgraded while maintaining their affordability. 340 of the units will be brand new, through new construction or renovation of a vacant property.
The allocation was celebrated at the ground breaking of Middletown Apartments, a project that was allocated FY18 funds, as well as funds from Louisville CARES. The Apartments will consist of 80 one, two and three bedroom units on Urton Lane.
“An increase of affordable housing units, scattered across our community, is essential for our residents to reach their full human potential,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “When families are cost-burdened by their rent, they have to give up other things like time with children, food or other essentials. The allocation by LAHTF will open housing opportunities for people who need them while simultaneously attacking other problems in our community like vacant properties.”
“Fully funding the Trust Fund is the only way we can begin to move the needle on the affordable housing shortage,” LAHTF Executive Director Christie McCravy said. “Projects and jobs are created, residents have choice…it’s a win for the entire community.”
LAHTF FY18 funds have been allocated as such:
- $175,000 to Winterwood Property Management for the renovation and rehab of the 27 unit Rivertown Apartments complex in District 6
- $1.74 million to LDG for the new construction of 158 units of a 316 unit multifamily apartment development in District 24
- $1 million to Housing Partnership Inc. (HPI) for the rehab of the 89 units at York Towers in District 4
- $450,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville for the new construction of 15 single family homes on vacant properties in Districts 1, 4, 5, and 16
- $350,000 to New Directions Housing Corporation and River City Housing for the renovation and rehab of 7 vacant single family homes in District 4
- $1 million to HPI and Urban Acupuncture for the new construction of a 24 unit multifamily development designed to house refugee families on a vacant property in District 5
- $30,000 to HPI for Operation Victory, a collaboration between HPI and local unions to build a home on a vacant property for the purposes of housing a homeless veteran
- $566,000 to Dayspring Community Living for the new construction of 3 single family homes on vacant properties in Districts 6 and 15, creating 9 single room occupancy housing units for the disabled
- $58,000 to House of Ruth and River City Housing for the new construction of a duplex on a vacant property in District 4
- $225,000 to HPI for the renovation and rehab of 11 vacant single family homes in District 4, 5 and 6
- $500,000 to Allied Argenta for the renovation and rehab of 125 units of the Henry Greene Apartments in District 4
- $1 million to Telesis Corp. for the renovation and rehab of 503 units at City View Park in District 4
- $250,000 to HPI for the new construction of the 80 unit Middletown Apartments in District 19
- $266,000 to Wabuck Co. for the renovation and rehab of the 16 unit Lions Arms I complex in District 1
- $200,000 to AME Church and Allied Argenta for the renovation and rehab of the 15 units Greater Community Apartments in District 5
- $300,000 to REBOUND, Inc. for the purchase and rehab of 4 vacant properties in District 4
- $189,000 to APK Development for the purchase and rehab of 5 vacant single family homes in Districts 1 and 5
- $330,000 to DF Property Holdings, LLC for the rehab of 11 vacant single family homes in Districts 4,5,6, and 15
- $100,000 to Blackrock, LLC for the rehab of 12 units of a vacant multifamily complex in District 4
- $34,000 to Yvonne and Crystal McAfee for the rehab of one vacant single family home in District 4
Additional funds were allocated to Homes of the Innocents ($10,000), HPI ($3,500) and Louisville Urban League ($15,000) for supportive housing services.
For more information on the Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/housing-community-development/louisv…
