BOONVILLE, IN — As winter approaches, families across the Tri‑State area are confronting a stark dilemma: keep the lights on or keep a roof over their heads. Impact Ministries, a local nonprofit shelter, says a sharp rise in electric rates is driving an unprecedented number of residents to seek emergency assistance.
Electricity costs outpacing rent
Director Shuck — identified in the source as a graduate and the shelter’s leader — explained that the ministry has been helping neighbors regain stability for nearly three years. “We even had an elderly couple who stayed in our place here that had a home, but they could not afford the electric for the month,” Shuck said. “They chose to pay their mortgage and keep their home, letting the electric lapse so they could get it caught up. And so we’re seeing that increase does impact.”
According to shelter staff, the surge is not limited to long‑time clients. “People who have never needed financial assistance before are now at our doorstep,” Shuck added, noting that the utility bills for some families now exceed their mortgage payments.
Shelter’s own budget under pressure
Impact Ministries itself is feeling the squeeze. Monthly electric bills for the facility are nearing $2,000, a figure that threatens the organization’s ability to maintain basic services. “The rising cost in our utility bills has made it more difficult to definitely help out in the community and do the things that we would normally do, our daily day operations,” Shuck said. “When you think about it, we right now have 24 people and we feed three meals a day and that’s a lot that goes on. We’re trying our best to maintain all of that.”
Calls for relief from utility providers
Shelter leaders argue that utility companies need to create a clearer path for low‑income residents. “There has to be a way, I believe, that can trickle down to our smaller people to help them not go to a place where they’re trying to figure out what do we pay this month,” Shuck said. “I’ve seen that even some people’s bills, including ours, have been, when your electricity bill is higher than your mortgage payment at your house, I think we have to look at where can we adjust.”
The organization hopes that policymakers and utility regulators will consider measures such as rate caps for vulnerable households, payment assistance programs, or seasonal discounts to ease the burden before winter fully sets in.
Community response
Local churches, businesses, and volunteers have begun organizing food drives and donation collections to help offset the shelter’s operating costs. While these efforts provide temporary relief, shelter staff stress that a long‑term solution will require coordinated action between the nonprofit sector, utility providers, and government officials.
With colder weather on the horizon, Impact Ministries warns that without additional support, more families could face the impossible choice of choosing between heat and shelter. The organization urges residents to contact the shelter for assistance and encourages community members to contribute resources wherever possible.
Original reporting: 14 News WFIE Evansville (news) — read the source article.
