Washington Post: Millions Risk Losing Power as Bills Pile Up
This Tuesday marked 67 days of darkness for Kenneth Parson. He fell behind on his utility bills in the spring — and his lights went off, and stayed off, starting at the end of July.
Press Release: Electric and Gas Residential Arrearages are Growing Rapidly
Residential arrearages projected to grow from $9.8 billion as of July 31 to $24.3 billion by year end. Millions of Americans are falling behind on their home energy bills as a result of job losses due to the pandemic. Utilities across the nation are reporting significant increases in the number of households in debt. While …
Revised HEROES Act Adds $4.5 Billion for LIHEAP
The revised version of the House Democrats’ stimulus bill (The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions, or HEROES, Act) contains $4.5 billion for LIHEAP. The updated version of the bill totals $3.4 trillion, $1.2 trillion less than the $3.4 trillion package that was passed by the House in May. The LIHEAP funding level is …
House Passes Continuing Resolution Through December 11, 2020
Late last night, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 8337 to fund the government through December 11, 2020. The continuing resolution (CR) would fund LIHEAP at its 2020 level of $3.74 billion and directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to follow the language in the 2020 appropriations bill, including the …
Op-Ed: Unless Congress Acts, Americans Will be ‘Sweltering in Place’
By Mark Wolfe and Cassandra Lovejoy – Over the next few weeks, as Congress gets serious about an additional round of pandemic relief, they must dedicate the funds to ensure low-income Americans impacted by COVID-19 do not get cut off from their utilities. Without power, phones, gas, water and other essentials to daily life, we …
Utility Shutoffs and Low-Income and Minority Families – CNN
As coronavirus cases surge across the US and states throttle back on economic reopenings, experts and advocacy groups are warning that low-income families could face utility shutoffs as moratoriums on disconnections lift — with Black families especially at risk.
NEADA Executive Director Interviewed on NPR
NPR’s Here and Now, a nationally-syndicated radio program, interviewed NEADA’s Executive Director, Mark Wolfe, today about COVID-19, LIHEAP cooling assistance, and the need for air conditioners for families with vulnerable members who have been asked to shelter in place during the pandemic. Listen Here
State LIHEAP Agency Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic
In addition to the health threat of COVID-19, the pandemic is also affecting the economic stability of households around the country. A recent survey by the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) found that Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offices are ensuring that households that cannot afford to pay their energy bills have …
HEROES Act Proposal Would Add $1.5 Billion to LIHEAP
Draft text of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act released yesterday would add $1.5 billion for LIHEAP to address energy access and security issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is in addition to the $900 million released on Friday from the previous COVID-19 emergency funding legislation. The House is expected …