Category: LIHEAP

Trying to Run Her Own Business

When Dominique got sick she was unable to work for three months, resulting in her to lose her job. After losing her job Dominique decided that she wanted to try and open up her own business. She discovered that starting you own business adds more struggles.

Needing some assistance Dominique signed up for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help her pay for her heating bills.

LIHEAP has helped Dominique be able to put money aside to open her own business.

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After Kathy lost her job her husband became the only financial support for their family. Kathy needed help so she turned to her local Community Action.

“LIHEAP helped pay the electric bill.”

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps households with limited income to afford their electric bill. It helps individuals and families keep from getting cold in the winter time.

“It’s really been a big thing and it helps the low-income people.”

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Click here to find your local agency

Single mom eight kids

Mary fosters her three nieces, and her nephew. Having four kids of her own she is now caring for eight kids. Eight kids on one income can be pretty challenging. With having to buy food and clothes for the growing kids it leads a gap in finances.

“It’s hard sometimes you gotta juggle which bill you’re going to pay and which bill to put off.”

Needing financial help, Mary turned to Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help her pay her heating bills.

Mary feels that the struggles will be worth it in the end. She believes she is making a difference in her children’s lives and in her nieces and nephews lives.

“material items aren’t always number one. There’s more important things in life.”

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Click here to find your local agency

New Job: Full Time Care Giver

Nancy quit her job and moved in with her mother to become a full-time caregiver. Nancy could get a well payed accounting job but that would leave her mother in a nursing home; Nancy doesn’t want that for her mom.

“My main concern is that she’s safe.”

Having to spend most her time on taking care of her mom, finding a new job was put on pause. With the only income her mom receives Nancy take care of her self and her mom. But the money isn’t a lot so Nancy must utilize Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) during the winter months to help pay the heating bill.

“They were able to send Alliant Energy 360 dollars on my account. Which with me not being able to work, it’s huge. ”

For the time being her main concern is making sure her mother is safe and taken care of. Nancy hopes to one day be employed again.

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Click here to find your local agency

Don’t need money to enjoy life

“Hello my name is Diana. I used to be worried a lot and now I’m in a position where I am taking care of myself. I am living alone and I am on a fixed income, but I’m doing the best that I can with it.”

Being on a fixed income can be challenging with balancing bills. Sometimes a bill or two may have to be pushed aside to pay for a different bill.

“At one point my lights were off, I couldn’t pay my rent and I didn’t have transportation. And there’s a time that I didn’t have enough money for food. I put my mind on what I could do to get out of that situation and I did. I came up with a solution, and came back.”

Diana receives assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps households with limited-income pay for their energy bills.

“Because of LIHEAP I don’t worry so much at the end of the winter year on how I’m gonna pay this light bill.”

Despite living with a limited income Diana does not complain about her life.

“This is my life. So, I try to make the best out of everything. I enjoy my family. I enjoy my grand kids. I just try to go through the day and enjoy what I have and just make the best of it.”

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Being a single mom and raising two teenagers can be tough. In the winter time “Tara” turned to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help her pay her heating bills.

“LIHEAP really helps. Last year it paid all of last winter and it usually lasts through the summer so I didn’t have any heating costs above the energy assistance which was nice.”

Tara is currently unemployed. She is looking for work but transportation is iffy so it’s hard for her to find work that she can get to. Tara’s family relies on her son’s disability check to survive.

“Hardly anything coming in. We have enough just to pay our bills and the kids don’t get to do a lot like they don’t get to go to the movies.”

Despite living with a low income Tara keeps her head up and doesn’t look down on herself or anybody living in similar situations she is.

“We are people, we are trying to make our lives better. We do what we can and, it’s nothing to be looked down upon!”

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Retired, Still need help

Now on unemployment “Carlos” and his wife “Roberta” struggle to keep up with the heating bill. Thanks to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps those with limited-income pay their utilities, Carlos and Roberta can get through the winter.

“Well, to experience an Iowa winter with no heat or no electricity even for a few days when you’re trying to scrounge up money or waiting on the check to make the payment to get it turned back on. It’s nice that if you can get there in time before anything bad happens that there’s a fallback system. We’re proud of LIHEAP for the assistance they rendered to us at that difficult financial time.”

LIHEAP partners with the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). When applying for LIHEAP, Community Action may see if you are eligible for  WAP. The WAP provides services to homes that make them energy efficient and safe to live in.

“We received a furnace after they discovered our’s had blown up.”

Because of LIHEAP, Carlos & Roberta can live in a warm home in the winter.

“I’m grateful for the heat.”

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