Dimanta said that people who need to think about the heating season now – buy wood or briquettes – are mostly turning to the charity. Residents say that the price of the heating material has risen two or three times, which they cannot afford. Their income has not increased and the forthcoming early pension indexation will not address it, because the increase is more substantial.
The head of Ziedot.lv said the charity was not sure exactly what state and local government support would be available in the heating season and asked residents to address the issues in their municipality.
“Because there are talks, there is news that there will be a new type of calculation of the housing benefit and that people are likely to be able to use it before the heating season to buy heating material. If there is a refusal from the social services of municipalities, then it is safe to turn back to charities, including “Ziedot.lv”, and then, of course, we will try to ask fellow people to help others. But it must be understood that, for the whole societt, spending is increasing,” Dimanta said.
Dimanta added that the second worrying thing was that people in need of expensive drugs or medical care could no longer afford it because of the increasing cost. The Ziedot.lv has seen an increased number of requests to help pay for medicines and treatments. For the time being, the organization has managed to help, but it is looking at autumn with concern.
