With the cold weather season quickly settling into the D.C. region, a growing number of District residents who have been hard hit by the Great Recession are looking to the city’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which is designed to assist residents who have received a shut-off notice and low-income people who need help budgeting their utility costs through the winter.

D.C. social services group Bread for the City has reported a 34% year-over-year increase in phone calls from residents seeking utility assistance this fall, just before the highest-cost winter months hit. At the same time, there’s less money to go around — the city’s budget for utility assistance is $17 million this fiscal year, down from $21.9 million in FY 2008.

As of last Friday, the program was only able to help people who had an actual disconnect notice in-hand. What’s more, the next available assistance appointment wasn’t until April — five long, cold months from now.

It’s clear that the budget cuts to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program are putting an unbelievable strain on the growing pool of D.C. residents who need help keeping the heat on this winter. Tell the D.C. City Council to extend some additional assistance to these residents so they aren’t left out in the cold.