A sign on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana. Photo from NRC
Tribal elders temporarily lose electrical subsidy
By Clara Caufield
Native Sun News Correspondent
www.nsweekly.com LAME DEER, Mont –– Winter is hard for many on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. As temperatures plummet, electrical bills sky rocket, especially for those who live in poorly insulated HUD homes, most heated by electricity. And, winter heating is especially challenging for tribal elders on fixed incomes when temperatures often fall to 20 and even 30 below zero. In the past, Northern Cheyenne tribal elders have found some relief from a subsidy provided by the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a program administered by local utilities; the federally funded Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); Energy Share, a regional program funded by charitable donations and the Human Resources Development Corporation, Billings. Roughly 5,000 people live on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation where more than 500 households rely upon LIHEAP, serving the poorest of the poor, on very strict income guidelines, said Letha White Wolf, Tribal LIHEAP Director. Yet, that program has experienced consistent cuts over the past three years (totaling about $90,000), leaving a service gap on the reservation which averages 50-80 percent unemployment, depending upon the season. Steve Small, Tribal Economic Development Director says that the average mean income is $14,000; well below the national poverty lines. White Wolf noted that many clients have no income except for food stamps or commodities.
Read the rest of the story on the all new Native Sun News website: Tribal elders temporarily lose electrical subsidy (Clara Caufield can be reached at acheyennevoice@gmail.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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