Client Stories

Isabelle Booe

Hopelink's Energy Assistance Programs give Isabelle Booe much-needed relief from a variety of financial pressures.

The Washington native has lived in her rambler home in Bellevue for 33 years and was happy when she learned of Hopelink’s services about 10 years ago.

“I saw an article in the paper about how people with low incomes can get help with their utilities through Hopelink,” Isabelle recalls.

A homemaker who raised six children and now lives solely on Social Security, Isabelle describes her situation as “lack of enough to cover everything.”

“It’s wonderful that I am not so pressured from all the bills coming in,” Isabel explains.

Having her lights on is very important to Isabelle. She has macular degeneration and must light her home brightly in order to see her surroundings and to read. Isabelle’s electric bill is paid through Puget Sound Energy’s PSE Help program, which Hopelink administers. Isabelle has also received help with her cranky furnace, through the federally-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. Hopelink also administers that program locally, which can help pay the costs of operating a home’s primary heating system, whether it be oil, gas, electricity, kerosene, propane or wood. LIHEAP also can help homeowners pay for furnace repair or replacement. LIHEAP funds first paid to repair the furnace, which kept it going for several years, then replaced it when it finally was no longer fixable.

“The people at Hopelink have always been very nice,” Isabelle says. “They’ve also been helpful with energy conservation tips. If it weren’t for Hopelink, I don’t know what I would do.”