The local context of energy assistance: exploring spatial associations between community characteristics and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program facilities

Social policy literature reveals proximity to social service offices and programme enrolment is linked. Individuals’ inability to walk to social service offices are consistently cited obstacles for applicants. Research, however, has yet to investigate spatial accessibility in the context of U.S. energy assistance. To fill this gap, we explore spatial associations between the location of energy assistance facilities (i.e. offices that facilitate applications), local socioeconomic indicators, and geographic contexts. Employing descriptive, spatial, and empirical analyses, we find spatial accessibility to energy assistance facilities is limited in the U.S. Approximately 6 percent of the population lives within close walking distance – within 1 mile – of its nearest facility, 21.1 percent live between 1 and 3 miles from a facility, and 18.2 percent of the population lives outside of any facility’s service area. Linear regression estimates confirm facilities are located farther from residential communities. Additionally, empirical models find local context is important to how select spatial associations manifest. While regression estimates suggest facilities are located closer to disadvantaged populations, including Black, Hispanic, and renters, despite geographic context, others vary. On average, energy assistance facilities are located farther from populations with higher energy burdens; however, this outcome only holds in non-urban areas whereas communities with higher energy burdens in urbanised areas are located closer to facilities. Our results will help administrators identify gaps in energy assistance accessibility and coverage, informing future facility siting determinations and outreach efforts.