A Blessing Desperately Needed

Paul is a Byrd Barr Place client.

When Paul was 63 years old, he had a very tough year. His wife passed away, and soon after he suffered a stroke that left him unable to work or keep up with the maintenance of the home he and his wife had owned for 22 years.

Then, already grappling with high medical bills, his furnace broke, and Paul was unable to afford repairs or a replacement. He used space heaters to keep warm during the winter, and his electric bills skyrocketed. Unfamiliar with navigating the landscape of social services, he found his way to Byrd Barr Place with a shut-off notice in hand to apply for our Energy Assistance program.

His stroke had left him with limited mobility, so even small things like filling out paperwork had become challenging. While a Byrd Barr Place client advocate helped complete his application, Paul learned that he not only would receive a grant to pay down his electric bill and keep his lights on but also could apply to have a new furnace installed in his home. “I am just taking it one day at a time, but this is a blessing I desperately needed,” he said.

In a follow-up call with Byrd Barr Place, Paul happily reported that his new furnace is much more efficient than before—and his heating costs are much lower.