Massachusetts families who are seeking help to manage their home energy bills will get some relief from the state. A new relief program will expand assistance for middle-income households.
CBS News Boston WBZ-TV reported that Gov. Maura Healey has revealed $15 million in supplemental funding for the federal Home Energy Assistance Program. Additionally, close to $34 million in funds will be allocated for a one-time relief program that aims to support middle-income households using oil to heat their homes.
“Many could pay as much as $700 more for a single fill-up,” Healey said of heating oil prices, according to CBS Boston.
While this new program won’t launch until December, residents are already complaining about the hoops they’re having to jump through. Jennifer McGrath said she has met complications getting her older adult parents on the South Shore access to financial assistance.
For now, only the Home Energy Assistance Program for low-income qualifiers is taking applications. State officials say more than 6,400 first-time applicants and 53,000 returning applicants have already signed up.
The Massachusetts Office of Housing and Livable Communities has received more than 13,000 submissions through its interest form. Officials urge anyone who is struggling with bills to contact a local community action agency, which can point them in the right direction.
Action for Boston Community Development is one of those agencies helping people in Boston and 10 nearby towns. Questions about the Home Energy Assistance Program have more than doubled since last winter, the agency says.
“We’re seeing more than 200 calls daily,” said Sharon Scott-Chandler, the group’s CEO, in a statement shared with CBS News Boston. “This early in the season, that’s unusual.”
Scott-Chandler says many families are already concerned about paying to heat their homes this winter. “We’ve talked to a lot of people on the phone who are very concerned about the high price of oil, high price of energy, and so we’re seeing more demand and more panic than usual,” she said.
Residents can visit Mass.gov/heatinghelp to see if they qualify for assistance.