05/29/2026
🚨 URGENT: PORTER COUNTY FAMILY FACING DISCONNECTION E26-09 🚨
A local Porter County family with three young children is facing a NIPSCO disconnection on June 2nd.
💡 Amount Needed to Avoid Disconnection: $2,828.74
🎉Updated amount needed to avoid disconnect : $2,078.74
This family first reached out to us in April and has worked incredibly hard to reduce this balance and pursue every available resource before asking for us to step in to help.
This is a one-income household. Mom stays home with the children because the cost of childcare and the lack of a second vehicle make employment outside the home impossible . Dad works, but the family has found themselves in a situation many working families understand all too well:
Making just enough to be denied assistance, but not enough to live on and cover every bill.
Earlier this year, the family lost SNAP benefits when Dad’s income temporarily increased. Although they have since been reapproved this month, the months without assistance created a financial setback they have not been able to recover from especially with toddlers and babies on formula.
They applied for Energy Assistance (EAP), but were denied because their income was slightly over the program guidelines. EAP applications are now closed for the season.
Other assistance pursued includes:
✅ St. Vincent de Paul - $500 pledged
✅ First Contact - $250 pledged (not yet reflected on the NIPSCO account and it was pledged last month. They have now stated they will be a last contribution)
✅ Township Trustee assistance received previously, and won’t see her again until she drives to the food pantry and takes a selfie on her disconnect date without transportation.
⏳ PCACS said they would also assist with $200 at the very end!
Unfortunately, additional challenges have also arisen. While the trustee assisted last month, a portion of the pledge did not apply as they stated it would, resulting in the landlord adding the amount of $125 plus extra late charges on to this month’s rent now 😭.
The family attempted to seek additional assistance from the trustee and speak to them in regards to the amount of the pledge that was not credited, but has been informed that another appointment will not be scheduled until certain requirements are completed. The requirements in this applicants case are unrealistic especially since the husband would have to take off of work to drive mom there for the selfie. Also with the disconnect date on June 2 on the very pantry date their energy would be shut off.
We tried to speak with the trustee for verification and they refused to verify the information the applicant gave us.
Although we have picked up and dropped off numerous applications from them for their applicants without transportation, and we have transported applicants there so they had access to apply with the trustee …the trustee said they did not know our organization 🤔and refused to speak with us. They refused to communicate even with the applicants permission, a ln offer of release of information and she refused to email us a simple email stating the applicant could not get an appointment by the 2cd of June before her cut off date.
We have reached out to the Jim over at the Porter County Commissioner Board over the Westchester Township Trustee office to inform them of this issue and how it is blocking people from getting assistance.
In the past we have always worked side by side other organizations to make a whole. Getting people help is not a competition. We have never had an issue with this before. Maybe it’s because we post redacted proof for transparency when we ask the community for help?
What ever it is, it’s not right. Anyone eligible for assistance should not be given further barriers to receiving it. Requirements should be obtainable and reasonable within an applicants means and placed on them as a way of giving back to the community, not another reason to why they can’t receive help.
At this point, June 2nd is approaching fast, and this family still faces the possibility of losing essential utility service.
❤️ How You Can Help:
🙏 Pray for this family.
❤️ Leave words of encouragement for a mom who feels like she can’t catch a break.
📲 Like, comment, and share this post to help us reach more people.
💵 If you would like to help financially, we can provide the family’s NIPSCO account number so donations can be made directly toward the balance!
No family should have to choose between keeping the lights on and meeting their children’s basic needs.
If you would like to help, please send us a private message for the account number!
