By State Representative Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta)
(419 words)
In Georgia, summer heat is more than uncomfortable—it’s dangerous. In winter, the chill can be just as unforgiving. But for too many residents in House District 63—which includes parts of Atlanta, South Fulton, Hapeville, College Park, East Point and Union City—these aren’t just weather patterns. They’re life-threatening emergencies.
That’s why the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is not simply a safety net—it’s a lifeline. And right now, that lifeline is being pulled away.
In 2023, more than 137,000 Georgia households received vital heating and cooling support from LIHEAP. This year, federal cuts slashed Georgia’s allocation by more than $66 million, leaving only $93 million to serve a growing and increasingly vulnerable population. The consequences of doing nothing in the face of these cuts are not only immoral—they are economically devastating.
Let’s talk economics. For every $1 invested in energy assistance, states save more than $3 in avoidable healthcare, emergency housing and social service costs. When the heat is cut off for a diabetic senior or a disabled veteran relying on a ventilator, they don’t just suffer—they end up in emergency rooms, ambulances or worse. Cuts in energy assistance is a direct health risk multiplier for people with lupus and multiple sclerosis. These are costs that fall squarely on state Medicaid programs, hospitals and taxpayers. When families lose access to utilities, hospitals fill up, emergency rooms become shelters and Medicaid bills balloon. Working caregivers miss work due to illness or caregiving responsibilities lead to lost wages, job insecurity, lose income and face long-term financial instability.
Cuts to LIHEAP aren’t just budgetary decisions—they’re public health threats.
Congress must act now to:
- Restore full LIHEAP funding at the federal level.
- Provide state emergency dollars to cover critical gaps.
- Prioritize households with chronic illness and essential medical equipment.
- Offer caregiver-focused energy support to ease the burden on families.
- Require Georgia to track and report the health and economic impact of energy poverty.
Doing nothing is not an option—not morally, and certainly not fiscally.
We can’t claim to care about economic growth, healthcare access or family values while letting the heat get turned off in a cancer survivor’s home or watching a child with asthma struggle through the summer without air conditioning.
We must protect LIHEAP and ensure that energy justice is part of Georgia’s promise to all residents-urban, suburban and rural.
Because when we keep the lights on—we save lives, we save dollars and we protect the most precious assets, people.
Representative Kim Schofield represents the citizens of District 63, which includes a portion of Fulton County. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2017 and currently serves as Secretary of the Urban Affairs Committee. She also serves on the Creative Arts & Entertainment, Health, Industry and Labor and Small Business Development committees.
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