Store Locations
Utilities
UTILITY ASSISTANCE
The most basic need of those who are chronically poor and those in situational crisis is utility assistance, particularly during St. Louis’ harsh winters and sweltering summers, when a lack of access could result in illness or death. As the compounding costs of unpaid utility bills pile up, people in need struggle to cover more and more of their other expenses, creating a cycle of poverty nearly impossible the rise out of. We respond to this great need by devoting over half of our direct aid funding to utility assistance each year, helping St. Louisians in need meet their basic needs of a comfortable, safe place to live.
One of the Society’s first services was to provide firewood to those in need. Today, that commitment to providing utility assistance remains. In fiscal year 2014, utility assistance made up the largest distribution (57 percent) of our direct aid, totaling more than $3.3 million provided to St. Louisians in need, including more than $2.4 million for electricity, $661,638 for gas and $231,234 for other utilities, such as water, fuel oil, etc.
