Fewer people applying for utility assistance because of COVID-19

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Central Missouri Community Action usually sees an increase in people requesting utility assistance every summer because of the high temperatures.

CMCA administers money from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps families with energy costs. CMCA makes payments directly to utilities on behalf of people in the program.

During the last several years, the organization has helped nearly 7,000 families in central Missouri annually restore or maintain their utilities, according to CMCA's website.

CMCA reported 800 more requests for energy assistance in July 2019 than in July 2020.

Cheryl Unterschutz, the public relations manager for CMCA, said this decrease is because of the stimulus checks families received during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the $600 increase in unemployment under the federal CARES Act.

"The number of requests are actually down right now even with the heat, probably because folks are still utilizing emergency funding they have received because of COVID-19," she said.

However, Untershutz said the extra unemployment benefits will run out at the end of July.

"We do anticipate that there will be a big increase once the benefits end at the end of July," she said. "So we are looking to see a greater number of people applying in August and September."

MCA is encouraging people to apply for energy assistance if possible because of the decreased demand.