JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — Imagine being home right now and not having any heat because your connection has been turned off. As inflation rises and the cost of daily items skyrocket, some are struggling to make ends meet.
That's why Jefferson Parish is offering to help pay the water and electricity bill for those in need.
The countdown to Christmas is on and Panda Melson told WWL Louisiana, "We just moved into a place, five days ago."
Her family, like many others, is excited about Christmas but little did she know the turmoil she'd face in her new home. Imagine going into the holiday season without any running water at home.
"That's why we're here, cause we can't get our water on," she said. "We have two small children and we have been there for five days."
Melson says she just moved into her place but the tenants before her didn't pay their remaining water bill, now she's been saddled with the whooping cost.
"The water company is not helping us, they're just saying we have to pay the bill. Well, it's not our bill, $1,400 that's a lot of money," she said.
That's why she came to the Low-Income Household Water Assistance event, to get help. "We're here to prove we are new tenants and we need our water on, and we shouldn't be suffering for other people's problems."
According to Jefferson Parish, they will only accept 150 applicants daily, per location. The parish can help with water and utility costs.
Christi Langoni-Johnson with the Parish said, "We want to make sure that everyone is able to have utilities and heat.
"We are able to assist up to $1,500 on your water bill. We're also able to assist, through LHC, up to $800 on your utility bill.. through the donation of Atmos Natural Gas you can get your entire gas bill paid."
As for Melson, she just wants running water before Santa arrives. "We just wanted to get into a home before Christmas for the kids, now we're in and we have no water."
There will be another assistance event on Friday, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Lemon Playground AT 1307 Causeway Blvd., Jefferson.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.