Winter Storm Impacts on Low-Income Texans
In partnership with Texas Observer + Southerly
Paul Smith mops water after experiencing a busted pipe in his kitchen on Saturday February 20, 2021. Smith lives in the Lakeview Townhomes, which is part of the Dallas Housing Authority, and lost power on Sunday, February 14. The pipe broke four days later. (Deep Indigo Collective for Texas Observer + Southerly)
The extreme winter weather that blanketed Texas in February forced residents to confront vulnerabilities caused by protracted sub-freezing temperatures. People across the state struggled without electricity and water in frigid dwellings, survived off of cutting trees and bottled water drives, and cleaned after burst pipes. During this crisis, we joined editorial partners at the Texas Observer and Southerly to report on some of the most vulnerable in Texas and the US South.
March 19, 2021: Deep Indigo Collective produced a series of photographs from the Dallas Housing Authority’s Lakeview Townhomes for Amal Ahmed’s reporting on the disadvantages low-income households face with regard to energy efficiency and extreme temperatures. The reporting underscores that while some low-income Texans feel too cold in their home during mild winters due to poor insulation and energy savings, federal programs intended to weatherize these homes have been unable to reach the most in need. The hardships faced during the deep freeze do not end when surrounding begin to thaw. Households without insurance will go on to cover the cost to repair damaged home and replace belongings.
From our close vantage point, as a newsroom based in Texas, conditions in mid-February were rapidly developing for nearly two weeks. (We, too, had to respond to loosing electricity and water, and in the moment find a way to keep our family safe and warm.) In a short amount of time, Texans’ concerns shifted from two rounds of snow and ice to nearly a week of sub-freezing temperatures without electricity or water then boil water notices and the patchy, discouraging process of the power coming back online.
Even as news break and circumstances remain fast-changing, Deep Indigo is dedicated to working closely with our partners to get the visuals needed to report the news of the moment to the community they serve. Please contact us if you were interested in learning more about how Deep Indigo Collective can help serve your readers with original, time sensitive visual coverage when breaking news impacts your community.
-Andy Jacobsohn, Executive Director
(Rights to these images belong to Deep Indigo Collective. Please contact the nonprofit to license this content.)
Plumber Shashid Taylor-Bey mends a busted pipe in a unit at the Lakeview Townhomes, which is part of the Dallas Housing Authority, on Saturday February 20, 2021. Texans statewide are fixing broken pipes after nearly a week of sub-freezing temperatures and power outages.. (Deep Indigo Collective for Texas Observer + Southerly)
Plumber Shashid Taylor-Bey mends a busted pipe in a unit at the Lakeview Townhomes. (Deep Indigo Collective for Texas Observer + Southerly)
Plumbers move between units while fixing busted pipes at the Lakeview Townhomes. (Deep Indigo Collective for Texas Observer + Southerly)
Plumber Shashid Taylor-Bey (top) receives a piece of pipe from Melvin Buck-Meeks while mending a busted pipe. (Deep Indigo Collective for Texas Observer + Southerly)