Emergency fuel funds pinched by high demand

Home heating and related energy costs continue to be a burden to Washington County households, with those who provide fuel fund assistance finding it difficult to keep up with demand. There are approximately 14,100 households in the county.

Helen Vose, who has worked as a volunteer with the Machias Food Pantry for many years, says, "We keep hoping that things will get better, but I don't think they're going to. I've done this for a long time, and it's really kind of a sad situation out there." The food pantry provides fuel and electric bill assistance.

Vose explains that the pantry is seeing people from all walks of life, including young adults with families who bought homes five or so years ago at the high point in the real estate market. Now they are suffering from job cutbacks or changes. "All of a sudden the bottom just falls out," she says.

From one emergency to the next

Residents of the county have a number of fuel assistance sources primarily geared towards low income and emergency measures. For those who do not qualify for low income assistance, community fuel funds such as the Washington Hancock Community Agency's Heating and Warmth Program (THAW), the Machias Food Pantry's emergency fuel and utility assistance, the Maine Sea Coast Mission fuel fund and the Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association's (GEECA) Community Fuel Assistance Fund can make all the difference in an emergency.

"We're supposed to be for an emergency," Vose stresses. But what she and others are finding is that the need has become so pressing that households go from one emergency to the next with trying to pay their bills. The Machias program limits assistance to 75 gallons of fuel. GEECA gives a maximum of 100 gallons of fuel or fuel equivalent. Maine Sea Coast Mission gives 50 gallons, and the average THAW distribution is 100 gallons of fuel.

Washington Hancock Community Agency has served about 4,500 households in the county through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and an additional 700 households through THAW. Eleanor West, programs manager, explains that LIHEAP has never been meant to pay for an entire year of home heating and energy costs. "It is only meant as a subsidy." The program calculates a household benefit derived from income, housing type and age, the type of fuel used and the previous year's fuel consumption figures. When a LIHEAP-assisted household has used up its benefit, the next option available is the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP). It is used by clients as a one-time emergency source for fuel assistance, but it has a $400 limit. THAW is the only WHCA program that West says is able to help "the working poor" or those who do not qualify for LIHEAP or ECIP funds.

A close partner with WHCA is the Maine Sea Coast Mission. The mission provided fuel assistance to 186 county households in 2008 and 264 in 2009 through its CRISIS emergency fund. Wendy Harrington, director of service programs, notes that in January of 2009, a total of 41 households were served. That number more than doubled in January of 2010, when 88 households were served. Her budget is feeling the pressure. "The folks that we are hearing from are in desperate need." The program is set up for families with children and for the elderly and gives a maximum of 50 gallons of fuel. "If I put January and February 2010 together, we spent over double what we spent in that two-month period of last year."

Emergency assistance running low

According to West, THAW distributed $34,394 in fuel assistance in 2008, $106,043 in 2009 and $54,052 through mid-February of 2010. "We are in desperate need of donations at this time," she says. She estimates that the remainder of the heating season will see a need for an additional $50,000. An upcoming concern, West notes, is the period starting after April 15, when the heating season is winding down, but the electricity shut-off moratorium is over. From November 15 to April 15, utility companies cannot shut off electricity for nonpayment of bills without first obtaining a waiver. According to West, WHCA will start to see families who have accumulated $700 to $1,200 in arrearage. THAW is the only fund that can help, she says. THAW currently has no funds available for distribution.

Colin Windhorst of GEECA says that the Community Fuel Assistance Fund was close to the same situation. "By the end of January we had enough funds to help only two more people." GEECA's fuel fund was started three years ago. "It was started as the outgrowth of interest to assist those with a genuine need. We were approached by community leaders to set it up." The organization had typically given emergency assistance of $25 to $40 to help with food or bills. "But with fuel, this was simply not enough." GEECA works with the Salvation Army to provide fuel assistance to the area. "They contribute funds for fuel, and GEECA matches that amount with community donations," Windhorst says. "Community members are happy to help their neighbors, and it's made helping people who need fuel a whole lot easier." He notes that recipients are told about LIHEAP and the other programs that are available.

In 2008 the GEECA Community Fuel Assistance Fund distributed $11,000 in fuel. In 2009, $8,000 in fuel was distributed, but Windhorst notes that more fuel was distributed in 2009 than 2008 because of the extraordinarily high cost of fuel recorded in 2008. For 2010, 1,800 gallons of fuel or fuel equivalents have been distributed, with two more months of the heating season remaining. "Two weeks ago we were at about 300 gallon capacity," Windhorst says. However, the fuel fund expects to receive $750 from the 2009 Bikini and Speedo fuel fundraiser and 50% of the 2010 race's proceeds, about $1,000, will be donated to the fuel fund. "We're very grateful to the Valentine's racers and all the people who donned their bikinis and Speedos." He adds, "When people know that it [assistance] comes from friends, neighbors and churches, they are very responsible" with what they ask for and what they receive.

To help with fuel assistance, donations may be sent to the following organizations: WHCA, Resource Developer, 248 Bucksport Road, Ellsworth, ME 04605 C memo line notation of THAW; Maine Sea Coast Mission, 127 West Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609 C memo line notation of fuel fund; Ann Pottle, Treasurer, GEECA Community Fuel Assistance Fund c/o Bangor Savings Bank, 54 Washington Street, Eastport ME 04631 C memo line Community Fuel Assistance Fund; Machias Food Pantry, P.O. Box 265, Machias, ME 04654 C memo line notation of fuel fund.