Pierce County is rolling out a limited batch of free portable air conditioners to low-income households that received county energy assistance during the current LIHEAP program year, giving some residents a badly needed way to cool down before the next heat spike hits. Supply is limited and units will go out on a first-come, first-served basis. An adult has to be home to accept delivery, and county materials say recipients must have received LIHEAP benefits between Oct. 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026 and must not have received a county-provided portable AC in the last seven years.
Who qualifies for a unit
According to Pierce County Aging & Disability Resources, in its newsletter, Pierce County Community Action will provide portable air conditioners at no cost to eligible LIHEAP recipients who live in Pierce County but outside Tacoma city limits. Eligibility is tied to having received LIHEAP funds during the Oct. 1, 2025–July 31, 2026 program year, and anyone who already received a county portable AC within the past seven years is out of the running. Applicants must also sign a liability waiver and will be notified of their eligibility status by email.
How to apply and what to expect
Applicants are directed to complete the county's online cooling program form, which links out to a Cognito Forms application for the 2026 cooling program. If selected, applicants will get an email with a delivery time window, and an adult must be available during that block to receive the unit. Delivery dates are set by the vendor and cannot be changed. Pierce County posted the notice on Facebook on July 28 and included a short application link in that post.
If you live in Tacoma
Residents who received LIHEAP through the Metropolitan Development Council (MDC), which serves households within Tacoma city limits, are told to contact MDC directly about its cooling program and application process. MDC lists its Energy Assistance programs on its site and can be reached at (253) 383-3921 for help with applications and eligibility questions.
Why this matters
Cooling assistance has become a bigger slice of LIHEAP and emergency energy support as heat waves grow more frequent, and state rules allow LIHEAP funding to cover cooling in specific situations. The Washington State Department of Commerce lays out LIHEAP cooling options and program rules, while local measures such as free trips to cooling centers have been activated during recent heat events. Pierce Transit temporarily waived fares to help people reach cooling centers during a June activation, as reported in Pierce Transit picked up the tab to cooling centers.
More information
For full program details, the application link and the county’s eligibility chart, see Pierce County for information on its Energy Assistance program. Questions can also be directed to Pierce County Human Services at 253-798-4400 or via the department's contact resources. Availability is limited, so households that believe they qualify are encouraged to complete the form promptly.
