It was a ripple effect for Anna, single mother of a teenage daughter, who had a great job in the service center of a popular car dealership. Unfortunately, as recession took hold, she was the first to be laid off. In order to save money, Anna moved from her spacious apartment to a smaller, more manageable unit to help stretch her unemployment check. Unfortunately, moving to the smaller apartment did not decrease her energy bills. She entered into a payment plan, but wasn’t able to keep up payments, and her utilities were shut off. Anna had the utilities put in her mother’s name temporarily, and searched for more ways to reduce her utility bill, but none of her cost saving measures seemed to lower the bill. When her last unemployment appeal was denied, Anna couldn’t pay rent let alone the rising utility bill. 

 

Anna and her daughter moved into a subsidized apartment. However, in order to have the utilities turned on, she had to show proof that the previous utility bills were in her own name. Since they were not, she needed a 50% payment to the utility company to have the service  turned on in the new, subsidized apartment. Her savings depleted, Anna turned to her case manager at her supportive housing program at The Connection, Inc. The case manager knew that the payment on the back bill would help her get into the subsidized unit quickly. Once she was again stably housed, she would be able to get back on her feet and look for new employment.   

 

The case manager contacted the utility company and, thanks to the Neighbor 2 Neighbor Utilities Assistance Grant, was able to assure the utility that the required 50% payment would be sent immediately. She learned that the utility is currently investigating Anna’s old account. It appears that the occupant of an adjoining unit in  her old apartment building was somehow stealing Anna’s electricity, which explains the  substantial increase in her utilities usage, in spite of living in a smaller unit and all her other cost-saving measures.

 

The funds were sent immediately, and Anna set up a matching payment plan with the utility company for her current unit. The utility company is continuing its investigation into the previous, unauthorized usage at the old unit. 

 

Anna is very grateful that these funds were available to make the payment on her account, and is hopeful that her financial future will be brighter.