Half of Chicago parents have struggled to pay their heating bills during the past year, according to a new report from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The survey, which included responses from more than 500 local parents, highlights how ongoing cold weather has led to increased financial strain for many families.
The report found that one in five parents had to reduce spending on other household needs such as rent, food, medicine, or transportation in order to cover their energy costs. This situation is referred to as “energy insecurity,” and it can negatively impact children’s health.
“Too many families are struggling financially to cover basic necessities,” said lead author Marcus Shapiro, MPH, Research Coordinator at Smith Child Health Outcomes, Research and Evaluation Center, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Lurie Children’s. “We found that the most common indicator of energy insecurity – reported by over 20% of surveyed parents – was cutting expenses for other needs, such as rent, food, medicine, or transportation, to pay their energy bill.”
Other findings show that:
– 16% of parents lowered energy use at home to uncomfortable or inconvenient levels.
– 13% paid late fees on their energy bills.
– 13% used assistance from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
– 10% received an energy disconnection notice.
– 6% experienced extremely cold temperatures indoors.
– 3% had their energy disconnected due to non-payment.
Energy insecurity was especially common among lower-income households: 85% of families with annual incomes below $30,000 and 56% with incomes between $30,000 and $124,999 faced at least one sign of energy insecurity.
“We also discovered that 26% of parents use space heaters in some way to heat their home. This is especially concerning, since we know from previous research that one-third of all housefires are caused by space heaters,” said Shapiro. “Space heaters also account for about 80% of the injuries and 90% of the deaths in home fires that are caused by heating equipment. We encourage families to review heating safety tips from the Chicago Fire Department and other organizations.”
The hospital encourages families facing difficulties paying for heat or needing information about safe heating practices to seek help through resources like LIHEAP and Community Action Agencies. Additional guidance on heating safety is available from organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Chicago Fire Department, Ready Illinois and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago conducts research through its Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute with a focus on improving child health outcomes and advancing pediatric medicine. The hospital serves as a training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and has been recognized among the top children’s hospitals nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.
