For those living in poverty, extreme cold isn’t merely a nuisance; it can mean not being able to pay the bills.
For those who are homeless, it can be fatal.
Tracy Keagle, director of Humanity House, said there are many people in Allen County currently facing poverty and/or homelessness, and winter weather is only intensifying the situation.
Keagle said the primary issue at this time is people being unable to pay their sky-high utility bills.
“The bills are just really high,” she said, and added that although the city won’t perform shut-offs at below-freezing temperatures, the payments nonetheless remain.
“The temperature is going to go back up, and then they’re gonna start shutting people off,” Keagle said. “When they do that, we’re going to be slammed.”
Given this looming threat, Humanity House has been doing everything that it can to generate additional funds.
“We’re making money however we can to help people pay their bills,” Keagle said. “I can’t even imagine how much money we’re going to need.”
So what’s to be done?
According to Keagle, those worried about paying utility bills vs. buying food should prioritize their utilities and come to the Humanity House office for foodstuffs.
One need only come to the office window, fill out a form and request which items you’d like.
“We tell them everything that we have, and whatever they want, we give to them,” Keagle said.
Those who want to help those in need can donate directly to Humanity House, and you can even designate how you’d like your donation spent.
Recall that for a nonprofit, donations of this kind also have a special tax status, and can often be listed as write-offs.
In the meantime, Keagle will continue shoveling snow and selling baked goods to beat back the coming tide.
