Not Much Help in Keeping the Heat or A/C on for Poorer Families
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
These days you may not have to think much about turning on the heat or the air conditioner. But thousands of Arkansans are still thinking about how to pay off heating bills left over from the winter. And a recent study says with home heating costs steadily rising, there isn`t enough of the help that goes out to the Arkansans who need it most.
Since 2002, the federal government has increased funding by 21% to assist families with heating and cooling costs, the number of households to receive that help has increased by 20%, but the amount they`re each receiving has only gone up by 1%.
"The question is always should you help fewer families with more resources. Or do you spread it around and help more households and keep the payment low," said Rose Adams, Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association.
Arkansas doesn`t receive as much help to keep the air conditioner running. For cooling assistance this summer, Arkansas is approved for $40,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency - that`s compard with the $12.1 million received for heating this year.
