rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/letter/tell-congress-to-increase-liheap-funding-now?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-letter-area-tell-congress-to-increase-liheap-funding-now' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> CHN Action https://actionnetwork.org/groups/coalition-on-human-needs https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg In the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2024, LIHEAP funding was slashed from $6.1 billion to $4.1 billion, resulting in 1 million fewer households receiving assistance. For many households, higher energy prices can mean being forced to choose between heat, food, or medication. When heat gets turned off, especially in extreme cold, families can face increased sickness and mental health problems. Low-income households spend an average of about 8.6% of their income, almost three times the rate for non-low-income households (3.0%), on home energy. Low-income households that rely on electricity for heating and cooling are struggling to pay utility bills―one out of six American families are behind on their utility bills, owing a total of $19.6 billion as of the end of June. Congress must address this crisis head on. We join the National Energy Assistance Directors Association in asking Congress to pass $1.6 billion in additional home energy assistance this month to help millions of households pay their heating bills this winter. Click “Start Writing” to send a direct message to Congress urging them to increase LIHEAP funding by $1.6 billion this month. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-to-increase-liheap-funding-now