From the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (http://www.thecaap.org):
In cold climates, the onset of winter can cause additional financial stress and have health implications for the wellbeing of residents. This is particularly true for low-income families who may not be able to afford heat or appropriate clothing to protect themselves from freezing temperatures. 44% of US households, or about 50 million Americans, are considered low-income and likely struggle to balance and prioritize basic needs such as adequate heating and cooling in extreme temperatures and food expenditures.
For many families, the winter months often come down to eat or heat. Is it better to spend money to meet basic food needs or to cut food spending to afford heat? Most low-income families cut food and nutrition spending during the winter months in order to afford heating and energy costs. A 2015 study found that 25 million US households were skipping food and medicine needs in order to pay energy expenses. Parents will even go without a meal in order to ensure their children have enough to eat during these cold-weather budgetary shocks.
During the winter months there is increased demand for various social services such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and homeless shelters as people face high energy costs and dangerous outdoor conditions. Those without adequate shelter and heat face dangerous, even deadly, conditions. In fact, it is estimated that cold weather is responsible for 1.3% of total deaths in the US annually, and cold-weather deaths are 20 times more common than heat related deaths. Death rates due to cold temperatures are even higher in communities with more low-income families that lack adequate shelter. One study estimates that the cold is responsible for more deaths each year than leukemia, homicide, and chronic liver disease. Another study found that cold conditions can cause developmental delays and other health complications in children.
Clearly, winter poses serious problems for millions of low-income Americans. However, there are programs that help households reduce or better manage energy costs throughout the year. LIHEAP assists low-income families in paying their heating bills based on household size, income, and fuel type. They also offer crisis grants for emergency situations. Another program, the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), helps low-income households reduce their energy consumption and costs through weatherization updates that also ensure the health and safety of residents. Proper weatherization improvements can save a household an average of $283 or more annually.
There are many programs and services like LIHEAP and WAP available to help low-income families manage their spending and safety during the cold weather. But despite the existence and success of these programs, households are still struggling to make ends meet. In fact, due to limited funding, LIHEAP is only able to help 20% of eligible households, meaning 80% of qualified households are left struggling to pay their bills. Even when energy assistance is received, restrictions often limit the amount and types of assistance each household can receive.
The fact that low-income families must make tradeoffs during cold weather in order to make room in their budget for heating is simply not acceptable, yet the current administration has tried to eliminate LIHEAP twice since the 2016 election. Heating is a basic necessity during the winter months, and affording it should not come at the cost of another basic human need like food, nutrition, and/or medication. All people need safe shelter in dangerous conditions regardless of income and without sacrificing other aspects of their wellbeing. Congress needs to protect these programs and better support our low-income families. This is not just a matter of income, it is a matter of public safety.
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