With inflation remaining stubbornly high, many Americans have been forced to choose whether to pay for more groceries to feed their families, or to pay their energy bills to keep their families cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
According to CBS News, this new trend has been referred to as “energy poverty,” when Americans are unable to pay their energy bills or otherwise afford utilities. On average, households that spend 6% of their income or more on energy bills alone are considered to be in “energy poverty.” Currently, 1 in 7 American households spend approximately 14% of their income on energy.
One such example of an American being forced to make the choice between energy and food is 44-year-old Stacey Freeman, a mother who lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Relying upon space heaters in her insulated mobile home, she still had to contend with energy bills costing hundreds of dollars each month.
“Sometimes I have to choose whether I’m going to pay the light bill,” said Freeman. “Or do I pay all the rent or buy food or not let my son do a sport?”
Those who cannot afford basic heating or cooling in their home are much more likely to suffer from serious health issues, including respiratory problems, heart problems, and allergies, among others.