Although the definition of affordability includes both
rent and utilities, people do not usually think of the impact of
utility bills on low-income households. Utilities impose a disproportionate
burden on the poor. For single, elderly poor and disabled persons
living on Social Security Income (SSI), the average energy burden
was 19 percent of SSI. In selected StatesDelaware, Illinois,
and Vermontit was nearly 25 percent.
For Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), the energy
burden was, on average, seven times greater than for families at
median income. AFDC families paid an average of 26 percent of their
income toward energy, while median income families spent an average
of less than 4 percent of their income on energy.
Income
Level |
Percent
of Income for Utilities |
U.S.
median
SSI elderly
SSI (DE, IL, VT)
AFDC |
4
percent
19 percent
25 percent
26 percent |
See The
Cold Facts: The First Annual Report on the Effect of Home Energy
Costs on Low-Income Americans.
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National Energy
Assistance Survey Report
This abstract provides a summary of the NEADA and NLIEC national
survey of 2,161 LIHEAP recipients to collect information on the
choices made by households in FY 2003 when faced with high energy
bills.
more...
| Abstract
| Full
Report
The National
Energy Assistance Directors Association released a study
on April 5, 2001, that finds "Millions at Risk for Energy Cutoff".
The results of a study showing that as many as 3.6 million families
in 18 states, plus the District of Columbia, risk having their energy
cut off because of the effects of rapidly increasing energy costs.
Some states have moratoria on utility cutoffs during the cold months;
some do not. Table 1 of the study has a summary of arrearage and
shutoff information.
Utility
cutoffs cause homelessness. You can document this in your own communities
by following the example of Greg Copeland of the Energy Cents Coalition
in St. Paul, Minnesota. FROM HEATLESS TO HOMELESS is
a study based on research of 1997 St. Paul municipal records on
evictions due to condemnation. Energy Cents analysis revealed:
- 26
percent of evictions were due to electric and gas termination.
- 40
percent of evictions were due to water cutoffs.
The termination of service can threaten the home, health, safety,
and perhaps even the life of household members. The extent of the
problem can be documented in other communities and can be added
to the data on needs in a citys Consolidated Plan.
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