Being poor is expensive

Many studies have already established the cruel contradiction that the poor pay more for everything. I was reminded of that fact today while listening to a presentation by Issa Dadoush, the former director of the special services department for the city of Houston. Dadoush oversaw a weatherization program that targeted poor communities and lowered energy consumption by 12 to 18% for 6,300 homes.

Houses in poor communities are more likely to be older and lacking in insulation, therefore their inhabitants tend to use more energy to heat and cool themselves. This translates in a lot of money down the drain for people who can least afford it.

Dadoush gave a striking comparison. His electric bill for his own LEED-certified 3,000-square-foot house was $200; while the electric bill in a 1,000-square-foot house in a poor neighborhood was $500. The poor homeowner was paying $300 more for being poor.