Office of Environment and Energy The Energy web site describes
HUD energy initiatives, policies and how federal government wide
energy policies affect HUD programs and assistance. HUD faces
many challenges when it comes to energy policy. For an overview,
see Implementing HUD's Energy Strategy, a report to Congress
dated December 2008, that includes a summary of progress toward
implementing planned actions . First, utility bills burden the
poor and can cause homelessness. There is a Home Energy
Affordability Gap Index based on energy bills for persons below
185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. The gap was $34.1
billion at 2007/2008 winter heating fuel prices . The burden on
the poor is more than four times the average 4 percent others
pay.Twenty-six percent of evictions were due to utility cut-offs
in St. Paul, MN. Second, HUD programs are affected by energy
costs. HUD's own "energy bill" - the amount that HUD spends
annually on heating, lighting, and cooling its portfolio of
public and assisted housing a