Bitter cold has more seeking help with high heating bills

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Salvation Army in Goshen helps homeowners with high heating bills

The Salvation Army office in Goshen has seen a jump in those in search of help with high heating bills this year. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

ELKHART — This cold winter weather has a lot of people cranking up the heat. But as the mercury rises, so do the bills.

For some people, it's becoming increasingly difficult to cover those costs. So more people are turning to social service agencies for help.

The Salvation Army office in Goshen works with families in need during the home heating season. It’s seen a jump in those in search of help this winter.

"Just checking our records quickly this morning, we're seeing more people than we did this time last year, so the numbers are up,” said the Salvation Army’s Gail Hendershott.

They provide an energy assistance program for people in eight nearby townships. It is geared to those who have received a utility disconnect notice.

“We're only in a position that we can help when they're at a disconnect status,” explained Hendershott. “We'd put ourselves out of business if we were helping everybody with their bills, just that were behind. We only see people when they are at a crisis state."

Their clients’ bills vary.

"We've seen disconnect bills of $80 and we've seen them for $2,000, so there’s a wide disparity in when NIPSCO issues disconnect bills,” Hendershott said.

She says clients turn to the agency for a variety of reasons, whether it’s job layoffs, mounting or unforeseen medical bills, or being a retiree, living on a fixed income.

Ruth Howard and her husband fit the last category.

''Last month I had a $400 bill for my electric bill and gas bill, and they paid it in full,” Howard told WSBT News. “We are both senior citizens. We live on a fixed income, and there's times that we just cannot pay it."

For more information on local agencies that provide heating assistance, go to News Links.

Friday, Jan 25 at 10:48 AM boris wrote ...

get a job

Thursday, Jan 24 at 2:29 PM MS wrote ...

Come on $2,000 - what size house and how high is thermostat set. This assistance should be for the elderly and those who have fallen on hard times. Those that are able-bodied should be made to do some volunteer work for their assistance. No one should freeze but then again no one should take advantage either - that just takes it away from the ones that are more deserving.

Thursday, Jan 24 at 1:43 PM Marilyn wrote ...

Answer to above comment: The elderly often keep their homes warmer because their circulation doesn't work well and it's the only way they keep warm. I am not elderly, but I keep my house at 55 degrees most of the time. I turn it to 70 to warm up in the morning and maybe briefly another time during the day. I do use a space heater when I'm awake. People can dress warmer and keep the thermostat lower, etc. to save energy.

Thursday, Jan 24 at 12:44 PM c wrote ...

I keep my thermo at 63 and me and my children put on sweaters. It also makes the bed feel more warm and cozy. Oh but waite we R talking about some people who dont have to pay there bills. well if I could get mine paid id keep it at 80 also. I am not putting down the people who need help once in a while. I am talking about the people who have made a job out of standing in handout lines. The same people who fill there shooping carts up with candy and pop to B paid for by food satmps. GET A JOB

Wednesday, Jan 23 at 11:38 PM Jeb wrote ...

Save even more at 60 degrees.

Wednesday, Jan 23 at 7:53 PM Todd wrote ...

Turn down your thermostat from 90 degrees down to 72 degrees. Buy a digital thermostat and program it so at night it goes down to 68 degrees and then program it so 1 hour before you get up to 72 degrees, this will save you money. My grandma had her thermostat always cranked to 85 degrees and that is just stupidty.

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