Decrease in Funding Impacting Utility Assistance
February 05, 2024
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - A decrease in COVID-19 funds will change the amount of families Panhandle Community Services can provide services to this year.
Several agencies have been using COVID-19 funds to assist community members, but the funding is slowly declining.
In 2023, the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program was awarded $5.2 million in COVID-19 relief money assisting over 3,000 families in the Panhandle.
For 2024, that funding decreased to $2 million.
PCS says it expects to assist only 1,500 families this year.
“People are depending on that due to survival,” said Christina Cristan, energy assistance director at Panhandle Community Services. “Many times people result in illnesses or disconnection of utility bills and they may have issues or challenges with their health.”
PCS says rising costs in energy and cold temperatures have caused residents to ask for help with utility bills and heating unit repairs.
“For the high cost of utility bills in addition to the cold temperatures, bills are going to be extremely higher than normal,” said Cristan.
The original version of this story can be found here: https://www.newschannel10.com/2024/01/30/decrease-covid-19-funding-impacting-panhandle-community-services/.