Unsung Hero: How Utility Assistance Plays a Vital Role in Helping the Poor

Like Mighty Mouse of yore, help with utility bills may just “save the day” for low-income residents and those on fixed incomes. Illustration source: Wikipedia, in the public domain.

A while back I was surprised to learn from an experienced social worker that there are what amount to “fads” in social service as well. At the time, she told me, “utility assistance” — or providing help to low-income individuals and families to keep from having their power or water turned off — was waning in popularity, in part because it was often perceived as a…