INDIANAPOLIS -- With temperatures dipping into the 30s overnight, some Hoosier families are concerned about how they will pay for their heat this winter.
United Way of Central Indiana coordinates the Indy Energy Assistance Program. It may be able to help Hoosiers stay warm, but anyone interested should take action now.
Adore Walker, 24, is the mother of three children. She got help from the program last year and plans to do it again this year.
"You want to make sure all bases are covered, so if you do use more heat that you thought was needed, you are still able to cover that bill so you don't be in crisis predicament that you are disconnected in the middle of winter," she said.
Walker is not alone. Curtis Turner, 48, was injured last year and is disabled. He applied for energy assistance to keep his apartment warm.
"My lights would have been out and I would have lost my apartment," he said. "Because they don't allow for our utilities to get cut off at any time."
The people who help folks like Turner and Walker were trained Wednesday at the John Boner Center. Some of them have also needed energy assistance.
"I've had to use them in the past myself," said Tiffany Linza. "In the past, I've had to call in. I've had a very pleasant specialist, so I wanted to be a part of that and give back."
The program helped 19,000 households in Marion County last year, according to Mary Jones. This year, they increased the income level at which people can qualify.
"We are hoping that more people can take advantage of the program this year," she said.
Appointments can be made online at IndyEAP.org or by calling 211. Appointments start Nov. 5.
