A Little Utility Assistance Helps Keep Lander Families in Their Homes

The cost of utilities in Lander, Wyoming, has continued to rise, and unpaid utility bills often lead to eviction notices for Lander residents facing financial hardship. Energy Share of Wyoming does help with electric bills, however the formula used to calculate how much help each family receives has not increased with utility costs and does not cover the full bill. Further, funds from this program run out after four months, at which point residents must make some difficult financial decisions and some are unable to afford both utilities, rent, and food. Spotting this problem, the First Stop Help Center came up with an idea for bridging the gap: Provide one-time funding of up to $400 to catch residents up on their utility bills and help get them on their feet until families are able to apply for the federal utility program, if needed. The center reached out to LOR for help launching the program. LOR’s funding will provide utility bill assistance for approximately 62 families to help them stay in their homes over the course of a year.