CADILLAC — A Northern Michigan nonprofit says the impact of cuts to aid programs at the federal and state level are being felt here in Northern Michigan.
Love I.N.C. in Cadillac said they’re seeing a lot of people struggling to pay utility bills right now.
They said it’s a combination of rising costs and less help available from state and federal relief programs.
This is all happening as the non-profit is about to kick off one of their biggest fundraisers of the year.
Love I.N.C. office coordinator Paul King said changes to funding at the national and state levels are now impacting Northern Michigan.
“We’re almost twice as much as where we were last year at this time and there are clients that are calling that we just can’t help,” said King.
He said changes to how often people can receive the Department of Health and Human Services’s State Emergency Relief funding or SER’s was drastically reduced..
“SER has been cut by 60 to 70% this year. So those that were utilizing SER, 3 or 4 times a year now are able to utilize at one time of year, since there’s no more SER funding,” said King.
King said that’s forcing people to apply for help through the Michigan Emergency Assistance Program or MEAP much sooner.
“That program is funded two different ways. everybody that pays into utilities, a small portion of that goes into this pot. That pot also receives money from the federal government for low income, energy assistance programs. That funding has been dramatically cut,” said King.
“That pot is a giant pot that everybody in the state of Michigan pulls from at one time. So that funding money ran out in like April. And so the budget year for these fundings are October to October.
He said with funding drying up so early in the year, more people are looking for a helping hand from non-profits like Love I.N.C.
“The demand is greater. just the number of clients requesting assistance, and the amount of money that is needed to help them is larger than ever,” said King.
King said the greatest increase has been seen among seniors on a fixed income and people with disabilities.
“They don’t always have the option to go out today and make a dramatic change because of their disability or their age. If you’re 80, 85 years old on Social Security, the chances of you going out and getting a part time job so you can pay your electric bill or heat your house in the winter time. It’s just not always possible,” said King.
He said Love I.N.C. doesn’t want to turn anyone away, which is why this year’s upcoming fundraiser is perhaps its biggest and most critical one yet.
“ Every dollar will go to directly support our mission to help those in our community keep the power on, and keep the heat on in their house this year. We can put a Band-Aid on it a little bit and maybe make it so it doesn’t hurt as bad. but the problem is just getting so much greater, “ said King.