I recently read an opinion piece in which the writer states that the people at fuel assistance “Give assistance to all these ‘refugees’ that come into the state before the people that were born in Massachusetts.” [“Fuel assistance for who?” Recorder, Jan. 21].

What evidence does the writer have showing that fuel assistance has a policy of prioritizing applications that were submitted by recent arrivals to the state? The website for the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (www.masscap.org) states that “emergency applications are handled first.”

Nowhere on the website is there a description of a policy indicating that applications of recent arrivals should be categorically prioritized. Heating help information can be found at www.communityaction.us.

Abby Escobar

Lanesborough