Oregon Energy Fund (OEF) has received a $7,500 grant from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation to provide emergency energy bill assistance to Josephine County residents in financial crisis. The grant was presented on January 14, 2020, in an award ceremony at the Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort Convention Center in Canyonville. OEF will work with the United Community Action Network (UCAN) in Grants Pass to distribute the funds.

“Nearly 44% of Josephine County households struggle to pay their energy bills each year,” said OEF Executive Director Brian Allbritton. “Thousands of families spend up to a quarter of their income on their bills, putting them at risk of power shutoffs, illness, hunger, and even homelessness. This grant will help ensure that Josephine County families don’t have to sacrifice food, rent, medicine, or other necessities to pay for the basic need of electricity.”

1 in 4 Oregon households were considered “energy burdened” last year, meaning they spend more than 6% of their income on energy. Utility hardship of this nature has been linked to pneumonia, heart disease, arthritis, depression, diabetes, and malnutrition, along with housing insecurity and childhood trauma. Yet only 17% of households in need received assistance last year before government funds ran out, leaving thousands of families without aid.

The grant will be used to pay electric bills for families who are facing a power shutoff, or have fallen behind on their bills, and need help catching up. OEF’s current program in Josephine County supports around 30 families a year; the funds from Cow Creek will allow OEF to provide assistance to an additional 20 households. UCAN will assist OEF by screening applicants and ensuring they meet the necessary requirements.

“As Oregon Energy Fund enters its 30th year of powering lives, we’re constantly looking for new ways to support our neighbors, especially those in rural areas,” Allbritton said. “We’re grateful to the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation for helping us bring light and warmth to the people of Josephine County this winter.”

Josephine County residents in need of energy assistance should contact UCAN at 541-956-4050 to learn how to apply, or click here for more information.

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Oregon Energy Fund has been named a recipient of the 2019 Victorine Q. Adams Award, a national award for innovation and exemplary achievement in the field of energy assistance.

The Victorine Q. Adams Award is given by the National Energy & Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC) and recognizes “a nonprofit organization that displays an innovative spirit towards raising public awareness and generating financial aid for people in need of energy assistance.”

OEF received the award for our Senior Discount Pilot Program, which provides recurring energy assistance to homebound seniors. A groundbreaking collaboration with Meals on Wheels People and Portland General Electric, this program allows MoWP clients who are already receiving meal deliveries to sign up for monthly energy assistance in their homes, eliminating the need to travel or take personal documents out of the home. 

This year’s award was presented at the annual NEUAC conference in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 4. Deputy Director Marietta Doney and Board of Directors member Tyler Richardson accepted the award on behalf of OEF.

NEUAC Executive Director Katrina Metzler, who presented the award, said, “The Senior Discount Program reduces barriers to receiving assistance, makes funds more accessible to an often-overlooked population, and ensures seniors on fixed incomes have more money to spare for necessities like food, rent, and medication.” (Click here to read more about the Senior Discount Program.)

This is the second time OEF has been recognized with the Victorine Q. Adams Award. We previously received the award in 2008 for our Oil Recycling Program, which converts donated oil from homes and businesses into funds for energy assistance. Other past recipients include Dollar Energy Fund, HeatShare Human Services of New York, and NJ SHARES.

We here at OEF are extremely grateful to NEUAC for recognizing our work, and are honored to be recognized in this way. We would especially like to thank Meyer Memorial Trust, whose generous financial support has made this pilot program possible. We look forward to finding new ways to help our fellow Oregonians meet their energy needs.

Want to help us create more local funds like the Senior Discount Program?

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