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Frigid weather early in the heating season and the poor economy have combined to cause many residents of Washington County to seek assistance in paying for their fuel this winter, even though the price of fuel oil has dropped. The Maine Governor's Energy Office conducted its weekly heating fuel survey on January 26 and found the current statewide average cash price for No. 2 heating oil was $2.65 per gallon, which is four cents lower than the previous week and a seven cent decline over the past two weeks.
Lee Hardison, energy services director at the Washington Hancock Community Agency (WHCA), says heating benefits administered by that agency are going further than last year, "but we're using up the money just as fast."
From October 1 through January 15 WHCA has helped 153 households through The Heating And Warmth (THAW) fund. THAW assists households with furnace repairs, utility bills and other services not covered by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The typical THAW fund recipient gets a 100-gallon delivery of heating oil.
"We've spent about $63,000, and it's empty right now [January 30]," reports Hardison. "We had some minimal -- but nice -- donations for the Machias area, and we were able to help six people with that this morning."
WHCA also administers the Energy Crisis Intervention Program, which is used in emergency situations when LIHEAP benefits run out. "We can pay for a repair, provide $400 in additional fuel assistance or the same amount for a broken payment arrangement for utility companies if the household is being heated by electricity rather than wood -- a life-threatening situation."
Although LIHEAP funds are administered by the Maine State Housing Authority, applications must be made through WHCA, and Hardison reports her agency received approximately 3,560 applications by the end of December. "Most have been processed. Some are pending," she says. "People don't realize that it takes at least 30 working days for the process, not 30 days, and they get very frustrated."
"The lists of rules and regulations for LIHEAP changes every year, so patience is definitely needed," she adds.
Need drains Machias heating funds
The Machias Food Pantry at Centre Street Congregational Church has been giving financial assistance to many households that desperately need help filling their oil tanks this winter. "So many people aren't prepared at all for winter that we've depleted our funds," says food pantry director Ken Varian.
"Last year, we gave out over $10,000 in fuel assistance, which was more than we ever had, so that we started with less money this year," reports Varian, whose organization serves the area from Jonesboro to East Machias. "And we also need money for food."
"People continue to donate to the THAW fund, but any donations are gone pretty quickly," he adds.
Eastport area fuel fund benefits many
The Community Fuel Assistance Fund in the Eastport area has distributed 35 fuel vouchers this winter. "So many people live on the edge in Washington County, so we have received a lot of calls for fuel assistance," reports Colin Windhorst, president of the Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association, which oversees the fund. "If they qualify, we give out $250 per household."
The fuel assistance fund is supplemented by the Salvation Army voucher system, and the field secretaries are Colin and Ron Windhorst in Dennysville, who can be reached at 726-3905; Tami Dinsmore at the Regional Medical Center in Lubec at 733-5541; Ella Kowal at Eastport City Hall at 853-2300; and Pastor David Peterson of Robbinston at 454-0596.
"We need to make sure the money goes where it's needed, so we have to have a small meeting with everyone who calls and make sure they've exhausted other means of funding, like LIHEAP. Plus, we need their signatures."
"We had a young family who had been renting a place in Pembroke, and their landlord suddenly had to do repairs, so they had to move out and there was no fuel in the other place they moved into," reports Windhorst. "If they tried LIHEAP, the paperwork would take so long to prove you're at a different address, so the family asked us if we could help a little, and we did."
Tax-free donations may be sent to Community Fuel Assistance Fund, c/o Ann Bellefleur, Bangor Savings Bank, P.O. Box 250, Eastport, ME 04631.
Lubec seniors receive help
The recent Freezin' for a Reason Polar Bear Plunge in Lubec raised $1,300 for the Lubec Senior Fuel Fund. This is the fourth year that participants ran into the icy water to help keep needy senior citizens warm.
The Lubec Senior Fuel Fund is administered by the Lubec Town Office and was created to help residents who are at least 60 years old and don't qualify for general assistance and have exhausted all assistance from other agencies such as LIHEAP. Treasurer Randy Campbell says, as of January 29, the account contained $12,900 and seven households had been helped.
"They are very apologetic when they call, but that's what we're there for," says Campbell of the senior fuel fund clients who get a delivery of 75 gallons of heating oil or kerosene. "Everyone is very thankful for the help."
"Fuel prices have ranged from $2.80 to $1.62 a gallon, so that's helped us out a bit," he adds.
The program runs from September 1 to May, and people are not turned away if they need more than one delivery of oil over the winter. "If anyone is up against it, we'd certainly give them more help," says Campbell.
For information about receiving assistance from the Lubec Senior Fuel Fund, call Randy Campbell at the Lubec Town Office at 733-2342.
Food pantry helps in Calais
Father David Sivret says the Irene Chadbourne Ecumenical Food Pantry in Calais has a small heating assistance fund for Calais residents. Administered by his wife Sherry out of St. Anne's Episcopal Church, it is "a one-shot deal" that has provided about 30 households with 50 gallons of fuel this winter.
"They have to meet with Sherry, and she decides who gets the fuel assistance," explains Sivret. "For the most part, everyone is honest about their situation."
"We'll continue helping until we run out of money," he adds.
Assistance offered in New Brunswick
Applications for the 2015 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) are now available for low-income New Brunswick residents who need provincial help with their heating bill. The program provides a payment of $100 to families with incomes up to and including $28,000.
To be eligible, applicants must maintain a principal place of residence in New Brunswick at the time of application C either a house, an apartment or a living facility that is a self-contained domestic establishment with its own access and includes a kitchen, bathroom and sleeping facilities; have had a total family income of $28,000 or less in 2013; be a resident of New Brunswick as of December 1, 2013, and have filed a 2013 New Brunswick income tax return; and provide a copy of an electricity bill for the home dated after November 1, 2014. In special circumstances, such as loss of employment, an applicant who earns more than $28,000 may be eligible for the benefit.
The deadline to apply for the HEAP program is June 30, 2015. |
