Heating Aid To Be Cut In Northeast, Leave Many Poor People Out In The Cold

Thousands of low income citizens in the Northeast could be in for a cold winter this year as the federal government plans to cut a large chunk of its heating aid for the poor program.

According to reports the feds want to cut more than $1 billion from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, more than one fourth of last years $4.7 billion in spending.

The program affects more than 9 million households and in some states such as New England where expensive oil heat is used the effects are already being seen as Northeast states began cutting programs in anticipation of government cuts.

Speaking to the Associatied Press 92-year-old widow Mary Power said:

“They’re playing Russian roulette with people’s lives.

Mary lives in a trailer and earns $11,148 per year after working until the age of 90. The senior citizen says her aid will soon drop from $1,035 per month to $685 and to combat that loss she plans to turn her heat down to 60 degrees.

According to Mary:

“I will just have to crawl into bed with the covers over me and stay there. I will do what I have to do.”

Do you think cutting heating aid to the poor is a stupid decision by the federal government? Especially among high-risk groups like senior citizens?

[Image via ShutterStock.com]