Going into the colder months, the Holyoke-based Valley Opportunity Council prepared for a higher than usual demand for energy assistance due to financial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
So far, that increase hasn’t been significant, according to Melissa White, director of programs. But White hopes to see more people apply for the program as the season goes on, noting that many do not realize they are eligible.
The anti-poverty organization has seen more new clients this year, but the overall increase in those seeking help applying for the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has not been as large as anticipated, according to White, who attributes this trend to a combination of factors: a moratorium on shutting off heat creating a false sense of security for some customers, and misconceptions about who qualifies for the program.
Residents “sometimes think they wouldn’t qualify when, in fact, they do,” she said. “This is a program that helps people who are employed. This can help you even if you are a single person living on your own. This is a program that can help people who may not think they’re eligible.”
For those who do qualify, the state Department of Housing and Community Development’s LIHEAP program pays a portion of heating bills from November through April.
Multiple factors determine whether someone qualifies, but White said that some renters or homeowners are surprised that household income to qualify is up to 60 percent of the estimated state median income. This translates to a maximum income of $39,105 for a one-person household, for example, and $75,201 for a four-person household. A chart showing benefits for a household of up to 10 people can be found on the department’s Cold Relief brochure, which is available at mass.gov/doc/cold-relief-brochure.
White said “you can own your home, you can have heat included in your rent, you can heat in a bunch of different ways, whether it’s electric, oil, gas, wood” and still qualify.
In almost every case, she said, the payment goes directly to the utility provider, which deducts the amount from the customer’s bill. All heating companies generally work with the program.
Community Action Pioneer Valley in Greenfield has noticed a similar tendency this year. So far, according to spokesperson Jessye Deane, the agency has received around 5,000 applications, which is on par for the usual number of applicants at this time of the season.
The organization typically serves around 14,000 people by the end of the season, Deane said. The organization also runs a donation-funded “Heat Up” program that helps families in emergency heating programs and those at risk of homelessness. Snow & Sons Landscaping of Greenfield is currently matching donations up to $2,500, Deane noted.
While the two organizations have not experienced a surge in demand so far, some are anticipating a 20 percent increase in demand for federal home heating aid, State House News Service reported.
Valley Opportunity Council and Community Action both tend to see demand for assistance go up as the cold season progresses each year, White and Deane said.
In response, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey is calling for the federal government to dedicate $10 billion to prevent utility debt and heat homes. The federal government’s funding for the Massachusetts LIHEAP program decreased by $15 million between 2017 and 2021, according to Markey, who said the program’s overall funding has meanwhile increased by almost $350 million.
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern has also called for increased heating assistance in the past, and in 2018 asked the federal government to release more funding for LIHEAP.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.