docwebster ([personal profile] docwebster) wrote2010-08-13 12:07 am

Next project

I want to get my mother's gas turned back on. A few years ago (yes, a few years), Mom was in a really tight financial bind and had to get the gas be turned off when the bill got to be too much. It was the start of summer at that point, so gas wasn't a real big issue and lukewarm/cold baths were something of a blessing. She figured she'd let it go over the summer and pick it up again in the fall. What she was not aware of was her power company was tacking interest onto the bill and when she went to have it turned back on it was by then far outside her ability to pay to do so.

Now I am not asking for financial assistance, here. What I am asking for are ideas on who I might contact where she lives (Jeffersonville, Indiana) who might be able to assist her. She's got space heaters, so she doesn't go cold in cold weather or anything. But it sure would be nice at age 63 to come home from work and take a hot bath without boiling pots of water on the electric burner plate they have, never mind washing dishes and what not. She also usually ends up making a few extra bucks ringing bells for Salvation Army around Christmas time. She also has mild respiratory problems. Now do you begin to see how a hot soak after a day at the Senseless(eraseeraseerase) Census Bureau and a night out freezing her backside off ringing for the Salvation Army might be a good thing, especially at 63?

Move every Zig! For great justice!

[identity profile] murrday.livejournal.com 2010-08-13 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
http://www.in.gov/ihcda/2523.htm

The Energy Assistance Program provides financial assistance to low-income households to maintain utility services during the winter heating season. The program is implemented through the Community Action Agencies with outreach offices in every county. These agencies provide intake, application processing and utility vendor payments.
Interested? Please contact the Community Development Representative in your area to learn about the appropriate funds available from the Energy Assistance Program and the technical aspects of submitting the application. A site visit will be completed to assess the ability to meet the requirements. Please review the document below to locate your representative and their contact information.

[identity profile] murrday.livejournal.com 2010-08-13 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
There are links to more documents on the web page. And as a note, every state has a weatherisation program, so if anyone else needs it, type in your state plus weatherisation for the link.

[identity profile] freakyme.livejournal.com 2010-08-13 12:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Sweet!! This is what I was going to suggest (they have one here in AZ, so I assumed they would probably have one there, too!) Between her age and income level they should get her some gas and hopefully it will be affordable.

doc's mom

[identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_duncan/ 2010-08-13 12:24 pm (UTC)(link)
options:

electric water heater.
propane conversion and scheduled deliveries.
direct solar (not photovoltaic).

Be glad she's plumbed to different companies for those two sources of energy. Around here if you don't pay the gas bill the oven, fridge, lights, furnace, coffeemaker and computer go off too.

[identity profile] ladycygnet.livejournal.com 2010-08-14 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
I've heard good things about http://www.modestneeds.org/. Since your mom's need for help with the bill is a one-time thing, I think it would be accepted.

[identity profile] weekendwench.livejournal.com 2010-08-15 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
contact local churches they may be able to help