Need help with a high air conditioning bill lately?
Social service agencies and charities are getting calls where the needy are facing high air conditioning bills or other problems relating to keeping cool.
Southwest Florida is facing temperatures in the mid 90s while 11 cities statewide broke heat records over the Memorial Day weekend.
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Heat waves kill more people in the U.S. than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Roughly, 1,220 people in the U.S. die every year from heat-related illnesses that are completely preventable, the CDC says.
Jaclynn Faffer, president and chief executive officer of Baker Senior Center Naples, said older adults are coming to the non-profit organization for assistance.
One client recently getting recertified for food assistance through the state and for Medicaid for herself and two grandchildren she is raising (one grandchild is disabled), shared her challenge paying her electric bill.
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“She mentioned that her electric bill was very high because the primary air-conditioning unit is out and they are using small window units which are not doing the trick,” Faffer said. “We contacted Collier County Human Community and Human Services and linked the client to the electric assistance program directly.”
She may be eligible for financial assistance to repair the central air or to improve or replace the inferior window units, Faffer said.
If a senior calls the Baker senior center an assessment can be done and can work with the senior to get assistance for repairs or pay for window units through a federal program, she said. The senior does not have to be a member to get help.
The Salvation Army is another source of help for qualifying clients.
“The main criteria being that they live in Collier in their residence for 3-plus months, have a hardship, and that they have not received utility assistance from the Salvation Army in the past 12 months,” according to a statement.
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Here’s a list where to get help
Agencies may have qualifying rules for income and how often help can be provided.
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Salvation Army Fort Myers (239) 278-1551
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Salvation Army Naples (239) 210-4009
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Lee County Department of Human Services (239) 533-7900
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Collier County Community and Human Services (239) 252-2273
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Interfaith Charities of South Lee (239) 267-3510
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St. Vincent de Paul Society Fort Myers (239) 693-0818
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St. Vincent de Paul Society Naples (239) 775-1667
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Catholic Charities Lee (239) 334-4007
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Catholic Charities Collier (239) 793-0059
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Area Agency on Aging (239) 652-6900
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Baker Senior Center Naples (239) 325-4444
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Collier Senior Center (239) 252-4541
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Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (850) 717-8450
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Is the hike in your electric bill for AC putting you in a bind? There’s help
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