John,

I know you’re aware of all the work we’ve been doing to increase funding and to blunt the impact of draconian cuts for essential needs programs. Most of that work has focused on nutrition programs, Medicaid, housing, and early childhood education, but another essential program that gets less attention is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

LIHEAP provides funds to help low-income households cover the costs of rising utility bills in the winter and summer. Most of the money is used for heating costs during the winter, but with record breaking high temperatures every summer, it’s essential that we increase funding to this program and provide more relief for people during the summer months.

No one should face the possibility of having to go without basic necessities such as food in order to pay their high utility bill due to running their fan or air conditioner in life-threatening heat.

It’s imperative for Congress to act now to dramatically increase funding for LIHEAP so that millions of households don’t have to suffer during the hottest month on record.

Chip in $5 today so we can keep up the pressure on Congress to increase LIHEAP funding.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

-- MEREDITH'S EMAIL --

John,

2023 is turning out to be the hottest summer on record. Millions of people have experienced weeks of temperatures exceeding 100 degrees – and they are being forced to choose between food and other essentials or paying their skyrocketing utility bills for running their fans or air conditioners.

We know that climate change is real and if history is any indication, next summer will be even hotter.

With the heat wave showing no signs of slowing down, people need help paying their utility bills right now just to keep themselves safe.

The most impacted by these soaring costs are the elderly and low-income households. The federal government provides funding to states to help low-income households pay for heating and cooling bills through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Unfortunately, federal funds are only available for about 1 out of 6 eligible households, and most of the funds pay for heat, not cooling..

Thanks to supporters like you, we’ve sent thousands of letters to Congress demanding an increase in LIHEAP funds to help people cover the costs of rising utility bills. With your donation of $5, we can keep the pressure on Congress to increase funding for this vital program and protect millions of Americans from having to choose between groceries or paying for their cooling or heating bills.

Only 19 states plus Washington, D.C. have laws in place to prevent utility shut-offs during the summer. We know that millions of people have reported illnesses from the heat. Hospitals in the South, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest have seen a record number of heat-related illnesses this summer.

In the richest country in the world, it is unacceptable and inhumane that households are without proper cooling during the increasingly hot summer months and are becoming sick while facing shut offs due to their inability to pay.

Donate $5 today to help us keep the pressure on Congress to increase funding so millions of low-income households don’t have to suffer and risk illness during these historic heatwaves.

Thank you for all you do,

Meredith Dodson
Senior Director of Public Policy, Coalition on Human Needs