Housing America helps Somerton families apply for energy assistance
Somerton families could tap utility aid worth up to $640 a year, plus as much as $500 in crisis help, at a free application session before summer cooling bills spike.
A free help session in Somerton gave families a way to apply for utility aid that can cover up to $640 a year, with some households eligible for an extra $500 crisis payment. For residents facing rising electric bills as summer approaches, the difference was having staff help them finish applications instead of getting stalled by paperwork.
Housing America Corporation hosted the Power AZ application assistance event Thursday, May 14, at its offices in front of Somerton City Hall. Staff members helped residents complete applications and upload documents, removing two of the most common barriers for families who do not have steady internet access, a printer or time to handle forms during the workday.
The Power AZ program is part of Arizona’s broader energy-assistance system, and the state Department of Economic Security says households are first considered for LIHEAP or Power AZ based on income. Power AZ expands access beyond traditional LIHEAP eligibility, and the state says households may qualify at up to 100% of the State Median Income. Standard assistance ranges from $160 to $640 over 12 months, with a possible one-time crisis payment of up to $500 when a household faces shutoff-related problems or when regular aid is not enough.
The timing mattered in Yuma County, where the cooling season for LIHEAP runs from April 1 through November 30. In a desert county where temperatures climb quickly, May is already a critical month for families trying to get ahead of peak summer bills. Arizona’s LIHEAP profile lists the same basic benefit range, $160 minimum to $640 maximum for heating and cooling, with crisis help up to $500.
Executive Director Yolanda Galindo said rising energy costs and growing local need made the event especially important, particularly with farmworkers currently unemployed. That reflects a local economy where seasonal work can leave households exposed just as utility bills rise. Arizona DES says it also provides outreach for migrant and seasonal farmworkers, including referrals to housing, utility assistance, food banks and legal services.
Housing America Corporation describes itself as a nonprofit focused on homeownership, affordable rental housing, financial assistance and housing advocacy in Arizona. A public listing says the organization provides 88 apartment units for low-income families and migrant farm workers, underscoring why its Somerton outreach lands in a community where basic household stability can depend on help getting through the next billing cycle.
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