Nov. 1 marks the beginning of heating season in Massachusetts, but for some Pioneer Valley families, the ongoing federal government shutdown means they are without help as fuel assistance programs remain unfunded.
Community Action Pioneer Valley announced on Monday that the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will be limited to heat emergencies only while the shutdown persists. The government has been closed for more than a month and is on track to become the longest shutdown if it surpasses the 35-day shutdown in 2018-2019, as federal lawmakers have failed to pass legislation funding the government, including fuel assistance programs.
On Tuesday, federal lawmakers voted and failed to pass a funding bill for the 14th time. The vote was 54 to 44, falling short of the 60 votes needed to pass. Both Massachusetts senators, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, voted against the legislation.
“The fuel assistance program at Community Action Pioneer Valley alone provides approximately $8 million, which keeps 10,000 families across Franklin and Hampshire counties warm during the winter,” Executive Director Lev BenEzra said Tuesday. “There are a lot of households with hardworking folks and senior citizens where the ends just don’t meet and they’re struggling to fit the pieces together.”
BenEzra said that every year, as heating season approaches, residents reach out to apply for fuel assistance, but until the federal government distributes the HEAP funding, benefits can’t be awarded. The Community Action team is still certifying applications to have everything ready to pay out benefits as soon as Community Action receives its HEAP funds.
“This year is going to be really heartbreaking for people calling, and for the people answering the phones,” BenEzra said. “We will be doing everything we can.”
“Once the shutdown ends … we expect to resume normal fuel assistance procedures as soon as possible, sending out approval letters and paying benefits for eligible households,” Community Action Pioneer Valley Associate Director of Programs Janna Tetreault said in a statement.
While Community Action is unable to distribute benefit award letters at this time and will only send notification letters for incomplete applications, BenEzra said the antipoverty nonprofit will be providing aid for heating emergencies. The social service organization defines a heating emergency as having no fuel source (oil, propane/LPG, kerosene, wood, pellets, coal) available or being within three days of running out; having less than one-eighth of a tank of oil/kerosene or less than 20% of a tank of propane/LPG; or having received a shutoff notice for an electric or natural gas primary heat source.
“Anyone facing a heating emergency should let us know,” BenEzra said. “We don’t want anyone going cold.”
Additionally, the winter moratorium has been activated early this season and extended, BenEzra noted. As of last week, through April 1, low-income customers are protected from utility termination, provided they submit verification of financial hardship to their utility company. This affects customers of Berkshire Gas, Eversource and National Grid, but municipally owned companies are not obligated to participate.
Winter moratorium applications can be found on utility company websites, as well as on Community Action’s fuel assistance page at communityaction.us/program/fuel-assistance.
Statewide, 150,000 households rely on fuel assistance, keeping more than 300,000 individuals warm throughout the winter. According to Gov. Maura Healey’s office, the majority of these households represent senior citizens on fixed incomes (54%) and many households (11%) have children under the age of 6.
“Millions of people, including seniors and young children, across the country depend on federal heating assistance to help keep their homes warm during the wintertime,” Healey said in a statement. “Our message to people experiencing a heating emergency right now is to continue to apply for assistance — we will do everything we can to keep our families warm.”
The governor’s office added that without fuel assistance benefits, residents are going to face difficult decisions.
“Senior citizens on a fixed income should not be forced to choose between heating their homes in the winter or paying for their groceries and medication,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said in a statement. “Children and their families should not be left in the cold.”
While federally funded assistance programs are paused, community members are looking for other ways to keep their homes warm.
The Good Neighbor Energy Fund, which supports approximately 1,300 households during the winter through a collaboration between utility companies across Massachusetts and the Salvation Army, has opened up applications for its 2025-2026 heating program.
Justin Stearns, chair of the Good Neighbor Energy Fund and manager of credit and collections for Unitil/Fitchburg Gas & Electric, said the fund supports families who may not qualify for federal or state assistance programs, but are still struggling with the cost of heating their homes. The fund can provide up to $400 per eligible household.
“With unemployment and many everyday costs on the rise, there is a heightened urgency of need for home energy assistance, so we are opening the fund up starting today to all eligible households in the state,” Stearns said in an Oct. 20 statement.
BenEzra said community members can support their neighbors by calling federal lawmakers, alerting them to the impact the shutdown is having on essential programs and advocating for them to release the HEAP funds as soon as possible.
“We need people to call their federal legislators and tell them it’s cold up here,” she said.
She added that those who are able to give during this time can donate to Community Action, directly to the fuel assistance program or to any other program, on its website.
“I want to say thank you to community members who have shown up for their neighbors during this time. We’re in an unprecedented level of crisis, but people are stepping up for their neighbors,” BenEzra said. “We need everybody doing their part.”
To learn more about fuel assistance or to donate to support Community Action’s programs, visit communityaction.us. Residents seeking fuel assistance, emergency fuel assistance or checking their application status may call 413-774-2310.