Skagway offers assistance to residents struggling to pay utilities this winter

This winter Skagway is offering cash to residents who need help paying their utility bills. The program is being run by the Skagway Development Corporation and the application deadline for help with December bills is at the end of this week.

Skagway residents struggling to pay their utility bills have a lifeline again this winter. For the second year in a row, The Skagway Utilities Assistance program run by the SDC is distributing cash to help folks pay their bills after two straight seasons with very little tourism. And tourism makes up about 95% of Skagway’s economy.

The bulk of the program’s funding this year comes from a portion of the $2 million gift that Norwegian Cruise Lines sent the municipality last summer. And a little more than 10% of the fund comes from a donation by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. 

SDC’s Executive Director Kaitlyn Jared says they’ve got between $12,000 and $15,000 per month to spend.

“And we hope to spread it between, you know, December to March bills,” said Jared.

The utilities that are eligible for assistance include electric, water, sewer, and heating. But they aren’t helping with phone, internet or garbage.

The income limit for a single resident to qualify is a little over $4,000 per month, but there is a sliding scale in which the more income you make the less assistance you’ll receive. Also, it’s not first come first serve.

“We prioritize based on you know, if this is your first application, or not, how many kids or how many people are in the household. If there’s someone with a disability in the household (or) if there’s someone elderly in the household,” said Jared.

She says people who are applying for the first time get sent to the front of the line. There are also some hoops to jump through if you plan on applying for multiple months.

“If you received it one month, and you’re applying for it for a second time, you have to show proof that you did apply for the state’s pro Assistance Program as well, before you can get help a second time. You don’t have to show that you were approved or received the state assistance, you just have to show us that you did also apply for it,” said Jared.

Applications filed in January will go toward bills received in December. Water and Sewer in Skagway are billed on a quarterly basis, and since the bills for the fourth quarter of 2021 went out in October, the month of December won’t be covered by this program. Jared says water and sewer bills for the first quarter of this year, however, went out this month.

“So you could receive assistance with our February due date,” said Jared.

Jared says she doesn’t know how many people will apply this year, and she doesn’t have a firm plan for what to do if all the money isn’t distributed this winter. But, she says there are a number of ways to get the cash into the hands of residents that need it.

About a third of the $12,000 donation from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines will fund a Wellness Program also being run by the SDC. Jared says there’s no income threshold for this program.

“The only limit to us is how much money we have to spend on the program. And once the money runs out, the program will end,” said Jared.

A one time payment of up to $50 will go to Skagway adults and the money must be used for health and wellness reasons.

“That could range from massage to rec center membership to ski rentals, you know, anything or we have a number of wellness or health coaches in town, you know, anything that kind of translates to healthy mental and physical well being,” said Jared.

The SDC also bought some health and wellness workbooks that are available at the library, and Happy Lights that can be picked up at the local health clinic or at the SDC office.

The applications for both programs can be found online at skagwaydevelopment.org or in person at the office on State Street. The deadline to apply for the utility assistance program is 5 p.m. Friday.