Oregon Energy Fund
What Oregon Energy Fund wants you to know
Mission Statement: Oregon Energy Fund provides energy bill assistance to Oregonians in financial crisis in support of household stability.
Key Message: Oregon Energy Fund is the only statewide nonprofit focused on utility bill assistance, raising and distributing funds to partner agencies throughout Oregon’s 36 counties. Since 1989, we’ve helped nearly 300,000 Oregonians pay their energy bills in times of financial crisis, ensuring our neighbors stay healthy and safe in their homes.
- Every year, 1 in 5 Oregonians are forced to choose between paying the electric bill and forgoing basic necessities like food, medicine, and rent. This number is even higher among seniors, low-income households, and people of color.
- At Oregon Energy Fund, we believe no one should have to choose between darkness and hunger.
- For the last 30 years, we’ve provided emergency energy assistance to Oregonians who have experienced an accident, layoff, sudden illness, or other financial crisis, and need a little extra help paying their utility bills.
- In 2016-17, we kept the lights on for 3,094 people, including 442 seniors, 405 differently abled individuals, and 1,099 children.
- In particular, we serve the growing population of Oregonians who don’t qualify for government assistance but still need a hand to get back on their feet. We also provide assistance to those Oregonians who are eligible for federal aid but don’t receive any due to insufficient funds.
- By helping our neighbors pay their energy bills, we promote housing stability and prevent them from falling irreparably behind in an age of sky-high rent and extreme weather.
- We often think of electricity as a luxury. But for seniors who rely on oxygen, people with health issues who need to keep their medicine cold, and low-income families facing plummeting winter temperatures, the threat of losing power is a genuine crisis.
- To ensure our funds reach as many people as possible, we collaborate with major utility companies like PGE and Pacific Power, as well as community nonprofits like Impact Northwest, Human Solutions, and Self Enhancement, Inc.
- OEF receives no government funding and depends on the generous contributions of local businesses and donors like you.
- All donations received are allocated for use in the donor’s community, ensuring your contribution stays local within your area.
- Every bit helps! $25 heats a senior’s home for a week. $100 keeps the lights on in a kid’s bedroom for a month.
An illustration of how Oregon Energy Fund helps our community
For many people, it only takes one medical emergency or extreme weather event to fall disastrously behind on their bills.
This summer, we heard from Sarah, who had to retire early when her husband, Mike, was diagnosed with dementia. Lacking the funds for a caretaker, Sarah took on the task of looking after her husband herself – bathing him, cutting up his food, and keeping track of his medication. Sarah also suffers from a heart condition, making their position especially precarious.
Sarah and Mike lived as frugally as possible, shopping at Goodwill and forgoing any unnecessary purchases. But it wasn’t easy. “Losing half my income and going on Social Security just killed us,” Sarah said. As hard as they tried, their bills kept mounting, and in June, their rent increased.
Then, Portland experienced one of its hottest summers ever.
In their small Gresham apartment, Sarah and Mike did everything they could to avoid heat stroke and dehydration, running fans and A/C. As the heat wave reached its peak, Sarah received their monthly electric bill. It was for $400 – hundreds more than they could afford to pay. “I opened the bill,” Sarah said, “and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, what do we do?’”
Fortunately, Sarah heard about Oregon Energy Fund, and she reached out for help. With the help of its generous donors, OEF was able to provide financial assistance to help Sarah and Mike pay their electric bill and get back on their feet.
“That was probably the biggest relief of my life,” Sarah said. “Every part of our daily life depends on electricity. Cooking my meals. Keeping the food cold. Bathing, showers, TV. Every single thing. I just get a knot in the pit of my stomach when my bills aren’t paid. But it’s really hard to get energy help. Oregon Energy Fund saved us. I owe you my life.”