More troubling news on the home-heating front. Always a challenge in Vermont’s bitter climate, economic hardship may force many more elderly and low-income families to choose this winter between food and heat.  

Thanks to legislation sponsored by Senators Sanders, Leahy and Congressman Welch, federal funding for heating assistance more than doubled in the last two years; however, according to a release from Bernie Sanders’ office

“Because Congress has not yet approved spending bills for the coming year…initial allocations by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the energy assistance program were about 40 percent less than last year’s levels….Vermont was allocated $15 million instead of the more than $25 million the state would receive if the program was fully funded.”

So despite the fact that poor Vermonters’ need is growing, there will likely be less help to go around this year; and we already know how hard it is proving to be to get any assistance at all.

Senators Sanders and Leahy have sent a letter to leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee pleading the case for fully funding the program for seniors and low-income families. If Congress does not recognize the urgency of approving the additional funds for the coming year, the average benefit to needy households will be reduced from $1,100. to $660.

“During these very difficult times, we have got to make sure that not one Vermonter goes cold this winter or has to make the unacceptable choice between heating their homes and feeding their families,” Sanders said.  “LIHEAP is a lifeline to dignity for thousands of Vermont senior citizens on fixed incomes, the disabled, and families with children.  Fully funding this program is essential this winter.”

It seems like a cruel joke that even after they successfully run the gantlet of endless waits and bureaucracy to finally get approved for assistance, poor Vermonters are likely to get substantially less than is needed.