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MACON, MO -- The North East Community Action Corporation is projecting energy assistance funds to be at zero, by next week.  Leaving many missouri families in need.

Needy families across twelve Missouri counties will be affected by the cut funding.

Brent Engel with The North East Community Action Corporation said at his point, they're not sure how many families will be affected.

Engel said the budget battles in Washington is to blame.

"Funding is about to run out because we received half of what we received last year. So we're not going to be able to help as many people as we did last year because our funding is basically being sliced in half," Engel said.

Engel tells KTVO North East Community Action Corporation usually serves at least 8,500 families, but that number will decrease.

"This is going to mean real problems for a lot of families because as we all know, many people are living paycheck to paycheck. With this being another hit, another example of something they're not going to be able to take advantage of is really going to make a lot of families suffer," Engel said.

The corporation started the winter heating season with $712,000 for utility assistance. As of today, less than $50,000 remain.

Engel said it's very few options left for families in crisis. He says with funding drying up, and many places where people have traditionally turned to such as churches and community organizations, the resources are no longer there.