As fall approaches, many Yamhill County residents begin to worry about more than just shorter days, and concerns start to grow over the long, colder nights. Rising utility bills weigh heavily on seniors, families and those living paycheck to paycheck. For some, the choice is stark: pay the power bill or go hungry, ration medication or face eviction.
At Yamhill Community Action Partnership, we see these struggles up close. Last year alone, we provided energy assistance to 1,270 households. These households included families with young children, seniors on fixed incomes, veterans and people with disabilities. Each faced the very real risk of not being able to heat their homes or power essential appliances like refrigerators and medical equipment.
Our primary tool to address these needs is the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). For decades, it has been an important part of the social safety net, helping families keep the heat on and weatherizing homes for long-term savings. Last year, YCAP received just over $800,000 through LIHEAP, allowing us to pay a portion of the utility bills for those enrolled in the program…