JusBringIt
11-29-2009, 10:43 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Although heating-aid advocates want people to give generously, they say financial aid isn't the only way to cut energy costs. (http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20091129/NEWS03/911290362/0/BOB08)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Green_Home.jpgKevin O'Connor - RUTLANDHERALD (http://www.rutlandherald.com) - Nov 29, 2009
Sometimes teaching the art of fishing is better than handing out fish...These times are tough however --Ed.
When Richard Moffi became state fuel assistance program chief last year, heating oil was approaching $5 a gallon. Today the price has dropped by half. So why is Moffi's office giving out more aid than ever?
Vermont's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program just paid out $16.9 million to some 15,900 households, all while continuing to accept applications until the end of February.
The state expects to help more than 27,000 families — topping last year's record by at least 1,000. Energy costs may be down, but in the worst economy since the Depression, the number of Vermonters left cold by fuel and electric bills is up.
"For low-income families or a senior woman living on survivor benefits of less than $900 a month, anything over $2 a gallon is a budget buster," Moffi says. "We're hearing more and more folks who've either lost a job or hours say, 'I've never had and don't like to ask for help, but I don't know how I'm going to get though the winter.'"
Moffi's office, part of the state Agency of Human Services, is command central in the battle against freezing temperatures, distributing federal money — an average of $1,143 per qualifying household — and directing others to community action agencies that dispense government crisis aid and private charitable funds from a host of sources.
Need help? Heating advocates say Vermonters should start by requesting some of the $25.6 million the state will receive from a $5.1 billion national LIHEAP fund. The four-page application — available by calling (800) 479-6151 or checking the Web site http://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/fuel assistance — asks for basic financial information. But there's no simple threshold for acceptance or denial.
"I'm always leery about giving an income-limit number because people will say, 'I'm over that,' and not bother to apply," says Moffi, who held his job from 1996 to 2002 before returning upon last year's financial downturn. "We'd rather have people spend 10 minutes to fill out the application and see if they qualify."
Take the retired Pownal couple who discovered... http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20091129/NEWS03/911290362/0/BOB08
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Green_Home.jpgKevin O'Connor - RUTLANDHERALD (http://www.rutlandherald.com) - Nov 29, 2009
Sometimes teaching the art of fishing is better than handing out fish...These times are tough however --Ed.
When Richard Moffi became state fuel assistance program chief last year, heating oil was approaching $5 a gallon. Today the price has dropped by half. So why is Moffi's office giving out more aid than ever?
Vermont's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program just paid out $16.9 million to some 15,900 households, all while continuing to accept applications until the end of February.
The state expects to help more than 27,000 families — topping last year's record by at least 1,000. Energy costs may be down, but in the worst economy since the Depression, the number of Vermonters left cold by fuel and electric bills is up.
"For low-income families or a senior woman living on survivor benefits of less than $900 a month, anything over $2 a gallon is a budget buster," Moffi says. "We're hearing more and more folks who've either lost a job or hours say, 'I've never had and don't like to ask for help, but I don't know how I'm going to get though the winter.'"
Moffi's office, part of the state Agency of Human Services, is command central in the battle against freezing temperatures, distributing federal money — an average of $1,143 per qualifying household — and directing others to community action agencies that dispense government crisis aid and private charitable funds from a host of sources.
Need help? Heating advocates say Vermonters should start by requesting some of the $25.6 million the state will receive from a $5.1 billion national LIHEAP fund. The four-page application — available by calling (800) 479-6151 or checking the Web site http://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/fuel assistance — asks for basic financial information. But there's no simple threshold for acceptance or denial.
"I'm always leery about giving an income-limit number because people will say, 'I'm over that,' and not bother to apply," says Moffi, who held his job from 1996 to 2002 before returning upon last year's financial downturn. "We'd rather have people spend 10 minutes to fill out the application and see if they qualify."
Take the retired Pownal couple who discovered... http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20091129/NEWS03/911290362/0/BOB08