Stories of Impact

Laura Vazquez

I’m currently unemployed with two kids at home and rely on my unemployment benefits. I usually work in the fields, but right now, there is no work. HEAP is what supports me in covering my food and rent. I have a 48-hour shutoff notice expiring today and can’t pay for a few more weeks. This program eases my stress and is essential for families like mine, especially in agriculture, where wages don’t rise with costs.

Carolina Moreno

HEAP provides me with a better opportunity to manage my bills while I search for work. Currently, there are no job openings available for me, and without this support, I wouldn't be able to pay my bills. I would have to consider leaving my home and finding a place to stay. This program helps me during tough times.

Della Conner

It was a very stressful day when my power got shut off. I am on oxygen, and it is crucial to my health to have energy. Without LIHEAP, what could've happened to me in my sleep? There's no way I could have paid to have my electricity turned back on. It would still be off today, and my health would be at risk.

Guadalupe Alonzo

My husband and I receive HEAP assistance every year. He’s a quadriplegic and relies on a power wheelchair, which requires a lot of electricity, especially with extra heating in the winter. For people living on Social Security, unexpected expenses can be hard to manage. HEAP eases that stress and helps us keep up with bills. It’s a vital program for low-income families like ours.

Irene Muñoz

My HEAP benefit lasts me 4 months.

Those months I can focus on buying

essentials. I had a stroke 15 years ago and I am disabled - I can’t work

and receive Social Security income. I recently suffered another stroke and was hospitalized for a month. I returned home 2 weeks ago and received a 48-hour notice. I was about to be without power, but I was able to make a small payment and HEAP helped me too.

Vera Palmer

I was shut off for two weeks because

I am on limited income from Social Security and couldn’t pay my bill. While I was without power, I had 2

seizures due to my epilepsy. To get

my power restored, I would have to put my entire Social Security payment towards my energy bill. I

wouldn’t have money to pay for rent

HEAP made a pledge on my account and got my power restored in an hour.

Fidel Aldama

As a disabled individual in a wheelchair for 15 years, I rely on Social Security as my only income. My PG&E bill is over $150 a month due to medical devices, and HEAP provides vital assistance that helps me afford basic needs. My wife, now 63, cannot work, and without this program, we would struggle to pay for rent, food, and utilities, especially in winter when heating is essential for my health. Please continue funding HEAP to support elderly and disabled individuals like me who depend on this assistance.

Genevieve Artellan

I have been eligible for HEAP for four years. Each time I was eligible, it helped me pay my bills and expenses I had. I would have to sacrifice my utility bills to have money saved up for when I go to the doctor and other basic necessities like food. I only receive Social Security money and don’t work.

Roman Molodetskiy

We’re both in our mid-70s, living with limited income and serious health issues. I’ve had back and hip surgeries and am preparing for shoulder replacement, while my husband struggles with mobility and breathing after battling pneumonia and whooping cough. We depend on electricity and heating to manage our conditions, but even while conserving, our bills still climb to $250–$600 a month. Sometimes, we have to choose between staying warm and buying food or medication. Reliable energy is a necessity for us.

Reveca Garcia

I’ve applied for HEAP since 2004, and it’s had a huge impact on my life. As a single mother living with a disability, I’ve struggled to pay my bills. The credit from this program has helped me stay afloat. Losing HEAP would be devastating for me and for other low-income families who truly depend on it.

Martin Melgoza

I’ve applied for HEAP every year since 2014, and the help I receive makes it possible to cover my other bills and buy food. I care for my 90-year-old disabled mother, who relies on electricity for her medical bed. Without HEAP, I’d have to choose between food and power. This program is a vital support for families like mine and our community.

Maria Laurel

HEAP has helped me for years, especially when I had a special needs child. I’m disabled and can’t work, so the program allows me to cover rent and other bills. Without this program, I’d have to sell my belongings just to get by. The staff is always kind and informative, and this support truly makes a difference in my life.

Jose Moreno

LIHEAP helped me make ends meet. I’m a painter and drive everywhere for work. With inflation and the rise in gas prices, I’m able to keep working. This program helps hard-working people. People who get up and go to work every day like me.

Maria Valenzuela

HEAP has helped me for years, and now I need it again due to job instability. Even a small amount of help with a bill makes a big difference. I also received weatherization services. I got a new heater, lamps, and shower heads, which lowered my energy bills. This program is a huge support for low-income families like mine, so we don’t have to choose between food, rent, and utilities.

Maria Guillen

I’ve applied to HEAP for several years, and it’s been a huge help. The credit covers my PG&E bill for months, which means I don’t have to choose between electricity and my medications. I’m diabetic with multiple health conditions, and living on Social Security isn’t enough, especially in the cold months when heating costs rise.

Hilda Herrera

HEAP reduced a lot of our stress by helping with our energy bills. Without it, I’d have to sacrifice what little we have just to cover rent and electricity. I also received weatherization assistance, which helped lower my energy costs. CCES staff members were kind and respectful. I’m truly grateful for their support.

Betty Achica

LIHEAP has helped me get out of debt. I'm a single mom of 3 kids under 18. I lost my job because I was caring for my children when they all got COVID. Without LIHEAP I would have to sacrifice my rent payment, kids' school supplies, and bus fare. Thank you!

Krista Wong

I’ve been a longtime PG&E customer in San Francisco, and whenever I’ve had trouble paying my bill, the Fillmore LIHEAP office has been there for me. The staff is wonderful and truly dedicated to helping the community. I hope these services aren’t cut. Many low-income families still rely on this support to afford heating and cooling. The help and the people providing it are still very much needed.

Theresa Gleason

Thanks to HEAP, I am able to survive. HEAP helps me stay warm. HEAP Weatherization makes everything function more efficiently and look better and more updated. The new light bulbs are so much better - they give me a happier feeling, especially in winter. Since housing is so expensive in California, if I didn't have HEAP assistance, I would have to live in a more rundown place. I am very grateful for your program!

FACES OF LIHEAP

View the Stories of People Who Depend on LIHEAP to Survive