100,000 applicants and 5,000 spots: Record number of Houstonians need help paying their utility bills

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In northeast Houston, a record number of residents are seeking assistance with their utility bills, with over 100,000 applicants vying for just 5,000 available spots. Community organizers, such as Carmen Cavezza from the Coalition for Environment, Equity and Resilience, have been helping residents prepare applications for federal funds, but faced significant challenges when the application portal crashed due to overwhelming demand. This surge in applications highlights the growing financial strain on families as energy costs rise, exacerbated by inflation and other economic factors.

BakerRipley, the nonprofit administering the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), has seen a dramatic increase in applications, from 20,000-25,000 in typical years to over 44,000 last year. The rising electricity costs, driven by inflation and infrastructure upgrades, have left many residents, especially those on fixed incomes, in precarious situations. With limited funding sources available, the need for assistance continues to grow, as evidenced by stories of individuals like Sandra Edwards and Frankie Feliciano, who are struggling to keep their lights on amid soaring bills.