During this time of record heat waves, two critical DC programs that provide emergency rent and utility assistance, have run dry. Funds for emergency utility assistance ended July 15th and funding for emergency rental assistance ran out near the end of June. And while the emergency rental assistance program has additional budgeted funds, those funds have yet to get out the door to families who need the help immediately. And at the same time, the shelter system is nearly at capacity and new families without any place to stay are still being turned away.
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, provides a one-time benefit to low-income DC households who need help paying their utility bills. The program also provides emergency assistance to households who have received a disconnection notice. Unfortunately, LIHEAP funds ran out on July 15th ‘ just days before DC began to experience the first of its two major summer heat waves. DC has a law on the books, thanks to Councilmembers Cheh and Alexander, which prohibits electric companies from disconnecting utilities on days when the heat index is predicted to be 95 degrees and above. But it doesn’t prevent one’s electricity from being shut off before then.
Without additional LIHEAP funds, low-income households are left without emergency utility assistance through the end of FY 2011, or September 30th. And with FY 2012’s LIHEAP funding down by 23 percent (largely from cuts in federal funds) and winter heating costs expected to reach their highest levels over anytime from 2000-2010, DC households struggling with utility costs may find it even harder to access emergency utility assistance throughout the next fiscal year.
The District’s rental assistance program is in a similar situation. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides a one-time payment to eligible low-income DC households facing housing emergencies. Assistance is available to households facing eviction or for a security deposit and first month’s rent for a new home. ERAP is one of the more cost-effective programs the District has to prevent homelessness. The average ERAP payment in 2010 was $2,500. The average cost of a stay in a family shelter in DC is $2,500-$3,700 a month.
ERAP was awarded a total of $7.3 million for FY 2011. Through June, $5 million had been awarded and spent on emergency rental assistance. But since the end of June, the additional $2 million has yet to be released. The Department of Human Services states that they are working to make $700,000 available this week, and then the remaining $1.3 million by August 15th. But that is of little relief to the families that have been looking for emergency rental assistance for more than a month already.
Emergency assistance can help keep families in their homes, stable, and healthy. Without available emergency assistance families run the risk of displacement, homelessness, or suffering through extreme weather conditions. This has consequences for both the family and the District. DC should work to ensure that it has year-round emergency assistance available to families that need it.
