Massachusetts to Receive $131.5 Million in Home Heating Aid
LIHEAP
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Jessica Leving
Boston University Washington News Service
10/23/09
WASHINGTON—Massachusetts will receive $131.5 million in home heating aid for low income families this winter, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday—down significantly from the $213.5 million the state received last year.
The money will come from $2.7 billion in federal funds that will be granted to states, tribes, and territories under the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
“Each year, [the program] helps more than 5 million low income households deal with energy costs,” said Carmen Nazario, assistant secretary for children and families in the Department of Health and Human Services, in a statement.
Aisha Gray, a spokesperson in Health and Human Services, said the number changes year to year based on recalculation of the formula. “The formula used to decide allocations has changed,” she said.
Mark Sanborn, director of energy resources for the Worcester Community Action Council, said last year the program served 14,838 households in Worcester and Worcester County. This year, he said he expects the number of households to be the same or slightly higher due to unemployment.
But Mr. Sanborn said he is not overly concerned that the lower funds and higher need will be a problem.
“Last year was an abnormally high benefit level,” he said. “A lot of people didn’t exhaust their benefit last year.”
Who receives the funds is based on an income eligibility determination, he said.
“I don’t know how much is going to Worcester yet,” said Phil Hailer, spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. “It’s a work in progress. The money doesn’t come all at once. What was announced yesterday is funds to get the program up and running for everyone.”
Mr. Hailer said Worcester-specific number should be available to local agencies by the middle of next week, but the program does not officially start until Nov. 1.
Elizabeth Cellucci, director of external affairs for the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, added that the numbers announced Thursday do not necessarily represent the total funds that the state will receive.
“It sometimes happens in two rounds,” she said. “We get the bulk of the money at the beginning of the heating season. Sometimes halfway through the winter, the government can appropriate a little more. For example a family that received $1,200 might receive $100 more [toward their heating costs].”
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