ROANOKE, Va. – As summer temperatures soar and electric bills climb, Roanoke families may find it harder than ever to stay cool. The city’s Cooling Assistance Program is offering less money this year—just as more people are applying for help.
In 2023, the City of Roanoke provided up to $600 in cooling assistance to each eligible family. But this year, due to funding cuts, that number has dropped to $365.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration laid off the entire staff of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) last month and proposed eliminating its $4.1 billion budget—putting the program’s future in jeopardy at the federal level and raising concerns about the future of statewide programs…