Heating assistance threatened during government shutdown

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Tuesday marked the 35th day on that shutdown, tying the record for the longest-ever shutdown in United States history.

Thousands of households in the greater Springfield area rely on heating assistance to stay warm last winter. That’s according to the Valley Opportunity Council who told us that if the government shutdown continues, there won’t be any funding left to help these families pay their bills.

Western Mass News spoke with the Director of Programs for Valley Opportunity Council Melissa White. For some quick background, White told us that VOC is a community action nonprofit organization that serves residents in the area. She said that one of their largest programs is fuel assistance, including what is commonly called the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

According to White, VOC is the largest provider in the state, providing heating assistance during the cold winter months to greater Hampden County. Which includes Springfield, Holyoke, Chicopee, West Springfield, and more. She added that with the government shutdown in effect, the federally funded program is being greatly impacted.

“So, the money comes federally, then the state manages that money and passes it on. So, at this point with the shutdown, there is no funding for the program forthcoming. So that is obviously, you know, really significantly impacting this community.” White also went on to explain that last year alone the VOC provided heating assistance to over 20,000 households in the area.

“So that’s not even individuals, that’s households. This is a program that supports, typically, the large majority are young families that are working, that are struggling to make ends meet, and this kind of helps them pay that expensive heating costs. Or for older families or older individuals on a fixed income, that have maybe run into some hard times, some additional medical bills, etc., that makes heating their home possible.” White added.

According to White, those who applied to heating assistance would start getting notices November 1 on how much help they would get. However, those notices are not going out due to the shutdown. She added that there is some state funding however that won’t last long: “It’s specifically for families and households that are experiencing an emergency, a heating emergency. Generally, what that means is people that heat with deliverables. So, if you’re heating with oil, wood, propane, and you are out of that fuel or very close to out, right, a day or so worth, those are the people we are able to offer a small amount of assistance to hopefully get them through this period of time.”

White added that understandably this is making families very nervous as the weather starts to get colder. To ease a little bit of the stress, she wanted to let everyone know about what’s called a moratorium. “So, if you heat in other ways with gas, electric, you will not be shut off during the cold winter months, and they’ve expanded that moratorium because of the shutdown. So, from October 27th through April 1st, you will not be shut off because of the inability to pay.” White told us.

However, she still encourages people to call and see if they can be put on a payment plan, because even though they won’t be shut off, they’ll still have to pay the bill eventually. White shared that the longer the shutdown goes on, the harder this will get for families. “The small amount that we’re able to help with is generally like 100 gallons, right, for an oil heating emergency. That’s not going to hold people over for a long time… So, I’m worried about what happens for those heat emergencies in a month or so if the shutdown continues.”

Valley Opportunity Council has posted some tips and tricks to keep your family warm this winter and white encourages everyone to still apply for heating assistance even with the government shutdown in effect for a link to find information on tip and how to apply, click HERE.