Share the Warmth's Impact

Emergency Energy Fund

In February 2004, Share the Warmth met with and submitted a proposal to the Minister of Community and Social Services calling for the creation of an Emergency Energy Fund. In April 2004, the provincial government announced the creation of an unprecedented $2 million Emergency Energy Fund, the first of its kind in Canada. Despite these efforts, energy poverty and utility service termination, which ultimately leads to homelessness, continue to grow. Share the Warmth, through its role as a founder and steering committee member of the provincial organization Low Income Energy Network (LIEN) has been lobbying the provincial government to implement a permanent energy rate affordability program and energy conservation programs for low-income residential consumers to begin addressing real energy poverty in Ontario. To ensure housing stability, we must be prepared to act before the emergency arises.

Applicant Income Statistics for 2006/2007

Of all applicants approved for assistance from Share the Warmth in 2006/2007, 62% were receiving employment income or employment insurance, 25% were receiving disability or pension benefits, and 16% were receiving social assistance benefits. (Some applicants were receiving two separate sources of income, such as employment income with OW.)

Applicant Utility Status for 2006/2007

Of the 1,808 applicants that received assistance from Share the Warmth in 2006/2007, 5% were in threat of homelessness/eviction, 18% received assistance to reconnect their utility service, 73% were in threat of service termination, and 5% of the applicants assisted were in emergency circumstances.

Money Distribution to Household by the Utilities

Distribution by Demographics Energy Assistance