High gas costs to stop some residents cold 09/18/2000 By Robert Medley Staff Writer

It still feels like summer outside, but Jan Mercer already is shivering when she thinks about how much money it will cost for winter heating. Natural gas prices are expected to jump up to 76 percent higher for Oklahomans this winter because of lower natural gas production.

Senior citizens, the working poor and the homeless are alarmed.

"How are they going to keep warm in the winter?" Donna Bowers asked. Bowers is the vice president of the Daily Living Center, 3200 NW 48.

About 65 senior citizens spend their days at the center. Other Mayfair West neighborhood residents come for meals at the Oklahoma County Senior Nutrition site.

"I know people who will stay cold in the winter and won't turn up their heat because they are proud people who want to pay their bills," Bowers said.

"I think you will have a lot of people really in trouble in the elderly population."

Alejos Garza, 72, was helping clean up the center Thursday. He hadn't heard natural gas prices are expected to go up. "We will protest it," the south Oklahoma City resident said.

Shelters like the Jesus House, 1335 W Sheridan, where at least 60 people a night sleep, could be in trouble, said Mercer, executive director of the Jesus House.

"This is going to have a terrible effect on us. It's all we can do now to pay for what bills we have," Mercer said Thursday.

An average winter heating bill for the shelter is around $2,000. Mercer cringed at the thought of the coming winter.

"This could double our bills," Mercer said.

She said higher gasoline prices this summer eliminated the shelter's practice of picking up donated items at homes.

The shelter also raises money for people who have trouble paying their bills. That program also could be in trouble.

"How we are going to handle it, I don't know. We are going to have to pray," Mercer said.

Frustrating her more is the huge central heating and air system that was donated to the shelter. The system sits in storage because installing it would cost about $150,000 -- money the shelter doesn't have.

Mel Phillips, who works in the assistance program for the state Department of Human Services, said elderly, retired and low-income people will suffer the most.

Phillips said the department accepts applications for one- time heating assistance checks through December. He said federal funds also may be available.

At the City Rescue Mission, Oklahoma City's largest homeless shelter, a building for the homeless is opening in November, executive director Glenn Cranfield said.

City Rescue has not had trouble with heating bills in the past, but the projected jump in prices is a concern.

"A 76 percent increase? That will definitely affect our budget. You can imagine what it will do to the working poor," Cranfield said.

Cranfield said his biggest concern is for the working poor, not the homeless.

"How are people going to handle the costs? There are those who live day to day and month to month," Cranfield said.

Clara Haas, a senior citizens' advocate from Oklahoma City, has received numerous calls from worried people.

"We are going to have to look not only at how to make the payments but how to conserve," Haas said.

Some people may need to shut off extra rooms or stop cold air from getting in.

"We've got to look at the whole broad spectrum of this increase. Seniors may have to decide to cut back on some things," Haas said.

"There are people living in their homes who have trouble making ends meet as it is."

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 18, 2000