As Greater Boston endures tropical weather patterns, from balmy days to torrential downpours, it’s easy to forget that the winter of 2020 – 2021 brought frigid temperatures at a time when many had lost jobs due to the pandemic. Heating bills spiked as families tried to stay healthy and warm.
“The economic fallout of the pandemic has been severe for our most vulnerable neighbors. Through no fault of their own, many are out of work or their income has plummeted. They’re struggling to pay rent, feed their children, and heat their homes,’ said ABCD President/CEO John J. Drew.
Hardship became harder during the public health crisis, and ABCD provided home heating assistance to more than 21,000 households – 2,000 more than the previous year. The organization continues to provide help with past due bills to those who applied to the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
For tens of thousands of Boston-area residents, the financial strain is crushing. The moratorium on residential electric and gas shutoffs ended July 1st, but low-income residents have until August 12, 2021.
In response, Mr. Drew called for an extension to the shutoff moratorium, which the Boston Globe published on July 15, 2021. Learn more about ABCD’s Energy Services here.
