Missouri EnergyCare, Inc.

EnergyCare is the organization that has been helping vulnerable, low-income people find safety from the extremes of temperature in St. Louis since 1983. Low-income individuals face impossible choices: pay for heating or buy food; fill prescriptions or use the air conditioner. These problems are especially acute for the families EnergyCare serves – the elderly, chronically ill, disabled, or a child under 5 – because they are most vulnerable to extremes of temperature.

EnergyCare provides emergency help to people in dangerously hot or cold homes, supplying window air conditioners in summer; electric heaters or blankets in winter; and, when funds are available, help with utility bills. In addition, EnergyCare is offering a growing range of preventative services including HVAC repairs and home weatherization. These services keep clients safe, reduce energy costs and prevent disconnections. Ultimately EnergyCare prevents hospitalizations, promotes independence, and saves lives.

EnergyCare’s 2018 Winter Warming Program reached the target population, delivered the intended services and had a significant impact on the quality of life of those helped. We were particularly pleased with the amount of services provided and by the high rating that clients gave to the services they received. The services had a significant impact on clients’ ability to stay warm, healthy and housed according to statements made by clients in our client survey. The program’s outcome measures reflect mixed findings and include areas for improvement in both setting and measuring outcome.

Target Population
During the winter 2018/18, EnergyCare provided direct services to 342 families, helping them remain safely warm and in their own homes. Services included the weatherization of 82 homes, distribution of 128 electric heaters, and 54 weatherization kits. In addition, EnergyCare arranged for the repair of malfunctioning furnaces for 44 elderly or disabled homeowners and provided blankets and electric blankets to 440 people.

EnergyCare enjoys strong community and volunteer support, and the cornerstone of our revenue comes from the generous donations of individuals and families who recognize the value of our mission to the low-income people in our community. In addition, last year 292 volunteers contributed more than 1,400 hours of work for EnergyCare clients, a significant increase on previous years evidencing EnergyCare’s increasing reach in the community. Financial hardship plays a major role in their lives of the people served, and EnergyCare’s staff was particularly concerned that over 57% of the people served needed food banks and more than 46% could not afford to fill their prescriptions.

The program’s target population was (as always) older adults, people living with chronic illness or disabilities, and children under five. Our client survey suggests that services were very successful in reaching these groups: 66% of families served contained an older adult, 52% someone who was disabled, 57% someone who was chronically ill, and 11% a child under 5.

Almost all clients surveyed after receiving EnergyCare services were extremely satisfied with the services they received and impact achieved. The program delivered on its quantitative service goals, and clients responded very favorably to the help received. EnergyCare’s continues to refine the process of setting, delivering and measuring program outcomes.
EnergyCare's Summer Cooling Program addressed insufficient access to adequate air conditioning for 171 medically vulnerable, low-income individuals whose health is put at risk by exposure to high summer heat. Air conditioning is by far the most effective protection against the high indoor temperatures experienced in St. Louis; however access to air conditioning varies significantly on the basis of both income and race.