Cold winter, funding problems challenge heating aid programs

The federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in northern Maine is facing a perfect storm of challenges this year, including the unexpected combining of two social services agencies, an increasing demand, a government shutdown, changes in program rules and an early and bitterly cold start to Maine's heating season, according to Jason Parent, the CEO of the newly minted Community Action in Aroostook, Washington and Hancock Counties.

Parent states that records of the former Aroostook Community Action Program (ACAP) show the numbers of households served by the agency almost doubled between 2020 and 2024. He believes there is a similar increase in need in Washington County.

Next, the demise of Downeast Community Partners, the social services agency that had covered Hancock and Washington counties, meant the agency that low‑income applicants had turned to for heating assistance in Washington County was no more, as it transitioned to what had been the Aroostook Community Action Program. The newly combined agency had to scramble to coordinate staff across their three‑county territory to get the word out and to accept applications as the heating season approached. Parent credits Energy Program Manager Kelli Casey with pulling all of this together.

The government shutdown delayed funds further. Parent says, "Maine's heating season begins early, especially with our large elderly population. We begin taking applications over the summer, and the first payout usually happens at the beginning of November. This year funds were not available until the first week of December." That same week, single‑digit temperatures arrived in Maine as well.

Casey expresses pride in her team hitting the ground running and "meeting our clients where they are at. They are educating clients about access, and there have been huge improvements in program compliance," meaning applications can be processed faster. At the same time, cold weather and funding delays have meant "our calls have gone through the roof. We have been getting over a thousand calls a day. We have been bringing in additional staff. Even Head Start staff have used their holiday week between Christmas and New Year's to answer phones," says Casey. At the end of 2025, they have already processed over 7,000 applications and expect over 11,000 before the season is over.

The team still is working through rule changes and delays in the releasing of funds. Both Parent and Casey speak of the difficult calls that are part of their work. One call involved a patient due to be released from a Downeast hospital who could not go home because his home oil tank was empty. Another heart‑breaking call was from a mother who had to take her young infant to sit in her car when their home became too cold.

The program formerly used leftover funds from the previous heating season to help fund the programs that repaired or replaced heating equipment, but increasing heating assistance demand means that no funds are available. For instance, they had a call from an elderly couple who had been turned down for heating assistance even though they qualified. It turned out that a heating technician had condemned their old, but functioning heating system as unsafe. This meant they no longer qualified for fuel assistance. Private donations allowed repairs to happen to bring heat back to the couple's home.

Local programs step up

Smaller, local programs also try to fill the gap in fuel assistance this time of year.

The fuel fund of the Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association (GEECA) has been hit hard this year. Colin Windhorst reports, "We have written a total of 19 vouchers for heating assistance from our Community Emergency Fuel Fund since the beginning of the heating season this year. Nine have been distributed from Eastport City Hall and the others for households in the communities around Cobscook Bay. This represents nearly double the number of households receiving assistance since last year at this time, and we are just at the beginning of January."

Windhorst notes that those administering the fuel fund ask every applicant for proof that they have applied for federal fuel assistance. "This is a once in a season emergency voucher, meaning they must have exhausted other means of help. It comes in the form of wood, heating oil or the equivalent amount in kerosene."

Madeline Murphy, also with GEECA, states that, with deep cold arriving early, their fundraising efforts will be critical this year. "Our annual appeal letter went out at the beginning of December, and getting the word out stimulates donations. Sometimes local churches assist as well."

For assistance, please contact Ella Kowal at Eastport City Hall at 207‑853‑2300 or Colin Windhorst at 207‑726‑3905. Donations can be sent through the website <eastportlaboroflove.org> or mailed to GEECA Fuel Fund, PO Box 147, Eastport, ME 04631.

Ruby Fry at the Lubec Town Office, which administers the Lubec Senior Fuel Assistance Fund, reports, "Funds are lower than we would want them to be," with donations down this year. She adds requests are down this year as well, which she attributes to a declining population in town. She emphasizes that funds are available for heating assistance for Lubec senior citizens.

The fund supplies emergency assistance for Lubec residents age 60 and over if they are down to a quarter of a tank of oil or less. Requests for assistance should be made at the Lubec Town Office. First-time applicants should be prepared to supply documentation for proof of income. Donations can be mailed to Lubec Town Office, Attn: Senior Fuel Fund, 40 School St., Lubec, ME 04652.