Buddy Heaters help In-Lieu families stay warm
From Washington Gorge Action Programs:
By Tamara Kaufman
Bingen, Wash., March 6, 2025 — During routine outreach for the Energy Assistance Program at local In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites along the north side of the Columbia River this fall, Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) staff confirmed there was a need to assist Native families that are not connected to traditional heating sources.
“This type of outreach wasn’t routine at In-Lieu Sites prior to 2020,” said Debra Whitefoot, executive director of Nch’i Wana Housing. “This demographic did not readily have access to resources in the past. The energy assistance program was part of our early collaborations with WAGAP during COVID. We are happy to be working with this Community Action Agency to serve the local Native communities in Washington.”
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) allows qualified families and individuals to receive credit toward various energy resources to help keep the cost of heating manageable so they can stay warm and safe in the winter. However, there are some limitations. Amber Youtsey, WAGAP’s director for the Energy Assistance Program, explained that wood heating does not qualify for LIHEAP funding in RVs and trailers due to safety concerns.
According to Whitefoot, during Gorge Native American Collaboration (GNAC) meetings, it had been brought up many times that Tribal communities on the river’s north side lacked resources for heating. Nch’i Wana Housing connected with WAGAP to share this consistent barrier affecting houseless members. Most importantly, it was noted that the cold season had already set in, and there was a gap between when someone could apply for LIHEAP and when funds were available.
When Youtsey began her annual LIHEAP events on-site, she confirmed that many families at In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites were not connected to the electric grid but had some capacity for propane heating. She thought there might be an opportunity to help them find a stop-gap solution using portable propane heating that would also qualify them for LIHEAP. So, she coordinated with WAGAP’s Pathways Health Connect team to find a resolution.
“Pathways was a huge part of making this a reality,” Youtsey said. “They got more people involved.” Kimberly Hunt and Emily Brasuell, community health workers from Pathways, were already busy engaging the Native community, in partnership with the Nch’i Wana Housing team, to prepare for cold weather with distributions of knitted hats, gloves, socks, donated coats, and hygiene items. “This was a special time for us to get together with our team members to help and get to know our communities better,” Hunt said.
They took the need for portable propane devices to the executive team to see if they could find a suitable unit and funding to purchase the necessary equipment. Then, the duo reached back out to their contacts at the Gorge Native American Collaboration to build a more complete list of families who needed a portable propane heating unit. Nch’i Wana Housing and Columbia Gorge Health Council members supported the effort.
Together, the team identified Buddy Heaters and necessary accessory safety equipment, including a fire extinguisher, built-in carbon monoxide detectors, and a 6 ft hose with a regulator valve, as a solution to the problem. They wanted to reduce the risks associated with propane use as a fuel source.
With funding from the Inatai Foundation combined with local fundraising dollars, WAGAP utilized over $5,000 to purchase 38 units and accessories. Nch’i Wana staff prepared a safety training program that included proper use instructions given to each household during distribution.
Once set up with a Buddy Heater system, Youtsey could qualify eligible families to apply for LIHEAP funding, which would help them pay for the propane necessary to run the units. She explained that based on a number of factors, once approved, families would receive credit with a local propane company to refill tanks throughout the winter. GNAC partners are also working to increase access to additional propane fuel sources and other necessities to help families at In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites manage their heating needs.
Whitefoot says the doors have been opened for Native communities and outer agencies to foster relationships that help make resources and projects like this possible. “We are so thankful for partnerships we are building with WAGAP and other organizations throughout the Gorge to support our Native communities.”
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Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency that helps individuals, families, and communities. WAGAP addresses basic human needs, including food, shelter, energy assistance, and more, in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. For more than 50 years, WAGAP has helped people help themselves and reach self-sufficiency. Learn more at wagap.org, or contact WAGAP at (509) 493-2662 or info@wagap.org.
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