Fuel aid requests jump 27 percent this year
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Tom O'Connell of Downeast Energy braves the freezing temperatures Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005, as he climbs over a snowbank on Mellen Street in Portland, Maine. O'Connell welcomed Gov. John Baldacci's emergency proclamation on Thursday aimed at triggering a federal waiver to permit drivers to work longer hours to prevent heating oil tanks from running dry during the prolonged cold snap. AP Photo |
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By Bruce Edwards Rutland Herald - Published: January 15, 2009
Applications for fuel assistance have soared this winter as the recession puts a squeeze on cash-strapped Vermonters. And with a cold snap in the forecast for the next several days, requests for heating assistance have spiked further.
Richard Moffi, who administers the state's Office of Home Heating Fuel Assistance, said Wednesday that despite the recent drop in home heating prices, his office has received 35,746 applications for the Seasonal Fuel Assistance Program, up 27 percent from last year at this time. The number of households actually receiving assistance is up 17 percent from a year ago to 23,439.
The state's Community Action Agencies are seeing a spike in the number of requests for crisis fuel assistance.
Moffi said the surge in the number of Vermonters needing help to heat their homes is an indication of the dire straits many families find themselves.
He said those applications indicate to him that it's not just people losing jobs who are in trouble.
"People are losing hours and we're hearing that a lot … and those lost hours are really strapping folks working paycheck to paycheck," Moffi said.
So far, the Seasonal Fuel Assistance Program has distributed $30.2 million for an average benefit of $1,718. Last year, the average benefit for the entire heating season was $1,362.
The program is funded through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.
Low-income advocates say they're seeing a disturbing trend this season that they haven't seen in prior years.
"What we're seeing is we're seeing people who are coming in who have never come in for services before," said Hal Cohen, executive director of the Central Vermont Community Action Council in Berlin.
He said many seeking assistance have just lost their jobs and have run out of money to buy fuel.
The state's five Community Action Agencies oversee crisis fuel assistance for people facing an emergency such as a shut-off notice from their power company, running out of fuel or close to running out of fuel.
Cohen said requests for assistance at his agency (www.cvcac.org) are up 20 percent over last heating season. He said with frigid weather in the forecast for the next few days his agency has been overwhelmed with people seeking help.
Cohen has also noticed an increase in the number of working poor who need help paying their fuel bills. "Many of those same working poor are losing their jobs," he said.
At BROC – Community Action in Southwestern Vermont, there is a similar story.
Last month, BROC (www.broc.org) approved 245 applications totaling $63,397 for crisis fuel assistance up from 122 in December 2007 when $38,000 was distributed.
The onset of subzero temperatures this week has only worsened the situation.
"When weather like this strikes, people expend their fuel much more quickly, obviously, and also their furnaces tend to malfunction so any equipment failures are more likely to happen," said Elizabeth Eddy, BROC's community services and outreach program manager.
Fuel prices have dropped from their summer highs but low-income advocates said that's little consolation for people who are without jobs or are having trouble paying their rent or putting food on the table.
Heating oil has dropped from an average of $4.65 a gallon in July to $2.87 last month, according to the state Department of Public Service fuel price report. Propane has dropped from $3.31 a gallon in August to $2.86 last month.
For people who don't qualify for crisis fuel assistance, the Community Action Agencies also administer other programs, including Shareheat and WARMTH. Shareheat is sponsored by Central Vermont Public Service Corp. while WARMTH is a program of Green Mountain Power Corp.
To qualify for crisis fuel assistance, household income can be no more than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, though certain deductions are allowed. The Shareheat and WARMTH programs reach those whose household income is up to 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline.
To qualify for the state's Seasonal Fuel Assistance Program, household income cannot exceed 125 percent of the federal limit for non-crisis aid.
Moffi said the state is continuing to accept applications for seasonal fuel assistance through the end of February.
He said his office has $8.2 million in LIHEAP funds remaining to help Vermonters in need.
The Office of Home Heating Fuel Assistance can be reached at (800) 479-6151 or at dcf.vermont.gov/esd/fuel assistance.
Contact Bruce Edwards at bruce.edwards@rutlandherald.com.
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