MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - Loretta Roarke qualifies for disability due to arthritis in her back, but she does not prefer to rely on others. When her grandson offered, "Grandma, I'm going to get you a wheelchair," she shot back "Oh no you ain't!"
However, when it comes to paying her utilities, she has little choice but to take help. Roarke and her two grandsons live off of the disability payments she receives, but she relies on Central Missouri's Human Development Corporation (HDC) to pay her light and gas bill.
"If it wasn't for HDC, I'd be up a creek. I lose utilities, I lose my apartment," Roarke said.
As demand for natural gas rises and temperatures drop, Missouri's Social Services Department and community agencies like the HDC will join efforts to provide warmth to low income families across the state like the Roarkes.
Through the national Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, households that are below 125 percent of the poverty level can receive assistance to pay energy bills from late October through March. The Department of Social Services distributes applications through regional Community Action Agencies like the HDC.
The program runs in two components. One helps needy families pay to receive energy assistance, and the other helps pay overdue bills to get residents reconnected to their utilities.
According to Jeanna Machon, an Assistant Deputy Director with social services, Missouri received more than $40 million from federal appropriations to provide for energy assistance last year. More than six thousand Boone County households received energy help through the program last year, which was a rise from the year before.
As more residents have learned about the program, the number of applications have risen as well.
Roarke learned about the energy assistance program when a neighbor suggested she approach the HCD to ask them for help.
"They paid it and it surprised me," Roark said. "I'd never had any help so I didn't know what I could get."
David Thayer, executive director of Central Missouri's HDC, said that Missouri recipients receive a one time average amount of $200 towards their energy costs, depending on region and fuel type of the resident.
Those funds may have to stretch farther this year. A leading utilities company for Central Missouri, AmerenUE, is seeking to raise the natural gas rate an average of $16 a month per customer.
Roarke shook her head at the thought. "We can't pay it now, what are we supposed to do?"
Thayer expressed hope and concern for the upcoming winter.
"The state was concerned with the potential spike in natural gas so there were many meetings around the state to alert people. It appears right now that they may not go up as much as was feared so the impact may not be quite as bad. It puts a pinch on everyone because you don't really stop using (the utilities). It gets cold and you've got to keep warm."
Machon said that Congress is planning on finalizing its plans for state appropriations this week, so she is uncertain whether Missouri will receive more of less money than last year.
Applications became available on October 20, and will be provided until March 31, unless funds are used up before then.
Thayer said, "It is possible to run out of money on this program so the longer you can go before you get into real severe weather the more likely you are to be able to help folks."
Last year, Missouri had less than five cold-related deaths, the lowest number in over 20 years.
For more information about the program, see www.dss.mo.gov/liheap.htm