Local Business Owners Help Pay Local Homes’ Heating Bills This Winter
Charlotte, North Carolina, December 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Home heating costs are a growing challenge for many this winter. Fortunately, some local small business owners decided to do something about it.
“I live and work in charlotte–Matthews area,” said Jonathan Roberts who and his eldest daughter Juliana Roberts Runs a boutique residential real estate company. “Finances are tight. My daughter found a new place to live in December and when she factored energy costs into her cost of living, I was shocked that the rising cost of home heating made most of the options she considered Being left out of reach. It all adds up quickly.”
Roberts discusses challenges with local mortgage brokers bob kennedy. Their conversation turned into a plan to help some local families in the new year facing what was sure to become a very challenging financial environment.
“I know we have to act. Families in our community are struggling,” Roberts said. “After a few phone calls over a few hours, we immediately had a group of 12 business owners step up to help. Wow.”
During the pandemic, people saved and paid down debt. This trend is changing rapidly. Many people find their credit card balances depleted and those savings wiped out.
According to the Fed notes, “households have shed about a quarter of these excess savings since late last year as the saving rate has fallen below the pre-pandemic trend.”[1]
“Inflation and high interest rates have had a huge impact on our clients,” Kennedy said. “We want to help. It’s a small thing, but every little bit helps for those facing mounting bills. Many times families experience unforeseen temporary difficulties and things change. Very urgent, very fast.”
This winter, the 12 businesses will help two families who own their homes pay their utility bills. The Energy Information Administration predicts that the 2023 winter will be colder than last year, with natural gas costs increasing by 51% and electricity costs increasing by 20%.[2]
“It’s such a wonderful idea and so much needed,” he said Amy Carr, Executive Director of Matthews Free Medical Clinic. The businesses are working with local churches and nonprofits such as the Karl Matthews Free Clinic to determine the two families receive assistance with their utility bills.
“It’s great to see local businesses collaborating on this,” he said jessica tule, executive director of the Matthews Chamber of Commerce. “Business helping those in need is what community is about.”
Participating businesses: Whitlock Builders, Skidmore Surveying, Shingles Roof Direct, Safeguard Insurance, Window Hero, Charlotte Heating and Air Conditioning, Grattan Pest Solutions, Chiodo Custom Painting, Hunter & Chandler Law Group PLLC, Greenfrog Waterproofing, ALCOVA Mortgage, and Jonathan Roberts Realty
touch: Jonathan RobertsJonathan Roberts Estate, 704-589-8585, 350945@email4pr.com
touch: bob kennedyAckerwa Mortgage, 704-543-1989, 350945@email4pr.com
1 https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/excess-savings-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-20221021.html
2 https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/report/winterfuels.php
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SOURCE Jonathan Roberts Real Estate