News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
UCHRA trying to make sure lawmakers understand the importance of LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program with a month-long focus.
The agency uses LIHEAP funds to help low-income households by preventing electricity disconnections and restoring power. UCHRA Community Service Program Manager Judy Sanchez said the Upper Cumberland has a large portion of low-income households who desperately need the help.
“We have such a large population that is living on fixed incomes or is that vulnerable, they have the elderly, they have the disabilities, or they have those young children in the home,” Sanchez said. “They may be working a full-time job but sometimes it is just not enough.”
Sanchez said since COVID the state has lowered the amount of LIHEAP funding each year. Sanchez said they will use the month of August to express to lawmakers how important the funds are to the community and why more funds are needed.
“We don’t have quite as much money,” Sanchez said. “We have still been blessed to help everybody that’s had assistance that signed up with us, but there is always a chance that maybe we won’t because the funding does keep dropping a little bit at a time. We have to just get the word out to our legislatures and our representatives, please consider the LIHEAP funding when you are talking about it and when you are voting on things. We need more money.”
Sanchez said she sees grateful people who have been helped by the funding.
“You can just see whenever somebody comes in especially if it’s a crisis and they have been disconnected,” Sanchez said. “We are able to help and to know I’m going to get my electricity turned back on and I’m not going to have to sit in the heat or the cold or whatever it may be. Plus even if it’s just regular and they get a $600 credit, they can use $600 of their own money for other things.”
Sanchez said oftentimes vulnerable households will go without food and medicine to make sure their electric bill is paid. Sanchez said UCHRA also offers other forms of LIHEAP funding for those who are not necessarily past due on their electric bill but may be in a spot where they know they will not be able to afford it.
