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The number of people seeking utility assistance in Northeast Missouri this summer is greater than ever, according to social service agencies.
“I think it’s going to continue to grow,” said Janice Robinson of the non-profit North East Community Action Corporation, which covers 12 counties.
Peggy Walley of the non-profit Douglass Community Services in Hannibal also has seen an increase.
“Everybody’s squeezed tight,” she said. “We have a lot of people on fixed incomes, and fixed incomes don’t expand when the cost of food and utilities and everything else goes up.”
Earlier this month, Douglass ran out of $15,000 in utility assistance it had gotten in April from the Missouri Housing Trust Fund. Additional funding won’t come in until later next month.
The program provides a one-time payment to income-qualifying people who sign up for an appointment.
NECAC began the Energy Crisis Intervention Program on June 1 with $446,709. Half of it already is gone.
“We think it’ll be gone by the end of the month,” Robinson said. “I don’t know if there’ll be any extra money this year. Last year, we got a little bit.”
In June 2009, the agency helped 375 families a week. This year, the number has risen to 420 families a week.
ECIP pays up to $300 per electric customer. Recipients must meet income guidelines and have received a utility shut-off notice.
NECAC ran out of winter ECIP funding two months before the program was supposed to end. The summer program is supposed to last through September.
“There are a lot of new folks coming through our door,” Robinson said. “They’ve never had to ask for help before.”
Walley said the numbers also have increased at the Douglass food pantry. So far, donations have helped the agency meet the need.
“We’re so grateful to the community,” Walley said. “We’ve had a lot of people and groups doing food drives for us."
The number of people seeking utility assistance in Northeast Missouri this summer is greater than ever, according to social service agencies.
“I think it’s going to continue to grow,” said Janice Robinson of the non-profit North East Community Action Corporation, which covers 12 counties.
Peggy Walley of the non-profit Douglass Community Services in Hannibal also has seen an increase.
“Everybody’s squeezed tight,” she said. “We have a lot of people on fixed incomes, and fixed incomes don’t expand when the cost of food and utilities and everything else goes up.”
Earlier this month, Douglass ran out of $15,000 in utility assistance it had gotten in April from the Missouri Housing Trust Fund. Additional funding won’t come in until later next month.
The program provides a one-time payment to income-qualifying people who sign up for an appointment.
NECAC began the Energy Crisis Intervention Program on June 1 with $446,709. Half of it already is gone.
“We think it’ll be gone by the end of the month,” Robinson said. “I don’t know if there’ll be any extra money this year. Last year, we got a little bit.”
In June 2009, the agency helped 375 families a week. This year, the number has risen to 420 families a week.
ECIP pays up to $300 per electric customer. Recipients must meet income guidelines and have received a utility shut-off notice.
NECAC ran out of winter ECIP funding two months before the program was supposed to end. The summer program is supposed to last through September.
“There are a lot of new folks coming through our door,” Robinson said. “They’ve never had to ask for help before.”
Walley said the numbers also have increased at the Douglass food pantry. So far, donations have helped the agency meet the need.
“We’re so grateful to the community,” Walley said. “We’ve had a lot of people and groups doing food drives for us."
