Rising Heating Costs Hurting Poor

[jeffrey]

Demand for heating assistance from low-income households is expected to jump to the highest level in two decades this winter. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association (NEADA), the number of households getting aid for their heating bills will be 5.1 million this winter, an increase of 5.3% to the highest level since the 1980s. The increased demand is expected to strain resources from the government and charitable organizations.

The NEADA attributes the large increase in need to two factors; rising energy costs and an increase in poverty. Heating oil is expected to be an average 34% more expensive from a year ago, while natural gas is expected to increase 9%. At the same time, the number of Americans living in poverty increased by some 1.3 million in 2003. Due to the combined forces, even families who never had trouble in the past paying their energy bills may struggle this winter.

The money that supports heating aid comes from a combination of donations, state funding and the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). While a 16% increase in LIHEAP funding was approved for a total of more than $2 billion, there are still concerns that it won't be enough for all that need it.




For hints on how to decrease the amount of energy you use this winter, you can take a look at Lower Heating Cost Money Saving Tips or our article Save Money On Heating

[seaar2000]

Some people may not like my reply but I missed getting help with heating assistant by around 600 dollars. Some of these poor people if you ever went in their houses it is so hot you can hardly breath! I am not talking about older people who have poor circulation or people who have respiratory problems. I am talking about healthly people who crank up their heat. Turn down the heat and all the other things you are suppose to do and your heat bill may go down a little. I don't mind helping people who have lost their jobs and need help, but alot of times it is the people who are on welfare who need the help with heating. In fact I work with some older people and when I go into their homes their homes are cool because they need to save the money to pay the heating bill. How much more are we going to help these able bodied people who are generation after generation welfare folks who always want handouts, dont' turn down the heat because they think they are entitled to get everything free.
I feel that if you are working and don't make enough money your are entitled to get help with your heat, at least you are trying to work, people who have lost their jobs that they had no voice in about their job, people who did work at one time in their life, but forget about these welfare folks who never worked a day in their life. I'm tired of these people who think they are entitled to everything! Do like the rest of working people turn down the heat, wear sweaters, caulk, etc.,. Or how about getting a job.

[PrincessPerky]

I agree there are some who need help, but I have very little sympathy for people whos houses are hot enough for shorts right now! My cousin called awhile back to complain about finances, she was complaining about her 'cold house' at 72!!! I think 72 is about what I would love to afford! I at the time had my house at a nice toasty 68, ahh those were the days . (it's 65 now) Fortunatly, for our friendship, she turned down the heat before asking for assistance. (though we wont mention the fact that she uses tax payer money to get her kid in daycare, but at least the kid isn't with the dad. )

Anyway, how about the rising heating costs are hurting everyone! None of us wants to pay more for heat than we already were!

and BTW, roising poverty line! I am tecnically under or at the poverty line, and I have a nice house (1100 sq ft only 4 of us) a nice car, plenty of food (even if it isn't steak, due to my own mistakes). I mean really, I always thought of poverty as not being able to afford food, not being a bit to broke to eat out! Or not being able to afford cloths, instead it is not being able to afford a billion outfits! (you only NEED 3 in my opinion, one to wear, one to wash, one just in case the other ain't dry yet, don't get me wrong, I own more, but I only NEED 3), sorry, ranting mood here.