TRI-STATE (WFIE) -
CAPE's Energy Assistance Program ends next week in Vanderburgh, Posey and Gibson Counties. Despite concerns last fall because of a lack of funding, it turns out there's money left over.
"In the very beginning, I think, yes, we were concerned," said CAPE Executive Director Alice Weathers.
Back in October, Weathers wasn't sure what to expect from CAPE's Energy Assistance Program.
She says every year people are afraid of the money running out and not getting help, but this year they had a legitimate concern.
"This is the first year that we've not had enough money at the beginning of the program to serve all our families who did not have the resources to pay their utility bill," said Weathers.
When the program began, CAPE had just $750,000 in federal funding. It sounds like a lot, but not when you compare it to the $2.5 million it normally receives.
Eventually more money did come in rounds. The final installment didn't come until January.
"Which means we did get the full amount of the funding, and therefore, we have money leftover," said Weathers.
That's right after all the worry that it turns out there's extra money.
Weathers says they helped everyone on the waiting list, but still assisted fewer people this year, only about 55,000 instead of the usual 6,000 to 6,500.
She thinks the mild winter factored in along with some people who may have been eligible for assistance, instead choosing to pay their bills on their own.
So now, that leftover money will roll over into a summer program, which is something that doesn't usually happen.
"It's been a good year under the worst circumstances," said Weathers.
The details of that summer program haven't been announced yet, and neither has the amount of money that will rollover into it.
We'll keep you updated as we learn more.
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