Winter cold has settled in, prompting many of us to turn up the heat and add another layer of clothing to keep warm. As threats of a snowy winter are knocking at our doors, we know that it comes below freezing temperatures. We are often reminded that being in a warm home is not guaranteed to everyone. For too many Arlingtonians, especially neighbors living on fixed incomes, the cost of a warm home is greater than a simple utility bill; it’s taken from the budget for food, clothing, rent, and medical bills. Each day spent keeping warm means an increase to the next utility bill.
The dangers of losing heat and other utilities in cold weather aren’t abstract. When temperatures drop below freezing, loss of heat can quickly lead to hypothermia and increased risk of illness, especially for older adults and young children.
With Arlington Thrive’s Community Resilience Fund (CRF), supporting our neighbors through emergencies means protecting them from the biting cold. In 2025, 58% of our approved CRF requests were for utility bills, including: electricity, heating, and water.
When Patricia*, a disabled senior living on a fixed income reached out to Thrive, she faced a balance on her utility bill she knew she could not cover on her own. Patricia’s budget was sufficient to cover her typical expenses, but was unable to cover the impact of cold winter weather and higher energy costs on her utility bill. With the fear of a utility shut– off looming, Arlington Thrive stepped in to pay the bill through the Community Resilience Fund, ensuring that Patricia’s home will stay warm.
Beginning February 2nd, we will have additional funds dedicated to covering utility bills that meet our CRF guidelines. Thanks to the generosity of the Arlington Community Foundation’s Non-Profit Wish Catalog, the Helen Wardman Naselli Memorial Fund, and neighbors who have stepped up to build a thriving Arlington, we are able to support some of the most vulnerable in our communities and ensure they stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. To read more about our CRF guidelines, click here.
*Names of our clients and identifying details are changed to maintain dignity and safety. Though names are fictionalized, their stories are not.
