Nearly 40,000 households in Massachusetts will face the coldest part of the winter without heat as record-high oil costs will soon burn up all the federal money low-income residents receive to help pay their heating bills.
The cost of heating oil has increased by nearly 50 percent over last year. But the amount of federal money to help elderly and low- to middle-income families pay for heat, known as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP, has stayed the same for 10 years. During that same period of time, heating oil costs have tripled.
That means the maximum amount of help families can get this winter to help with their bills - $865 - translates into barely a tank of oil, with costs at $3.36 a gallon as of Friday. New Englanders typically need two or three tanks to heat their homes for the winter.
"We're very concerned," said Joe Diamond, director for MASSCAP, the state agency that distributes the federal aid for heating oil to agencies in local towns.
No one is more concerned than those who are working full time, but can't afford to pay their bills.
During just an hour at Greater Lawrence Community Action, the agency that distributes the federal money to residents in Lawrence, North Andover, Methuen, Andover, Reading and North Reading, 10 people came in for help paying their bills, and twice as many tried to get through by phone.
Among them were three Lawrence women.
Jen Sweeney, 34, lives in an apartment with her three children, 4, 8 and 10. She's a full-time teachers aide for the city of Haverhill.
Charlotte Hamawai, 43, owns her own home and works full time at the Point After Club, which helps adults with mental disabilities.
Maria Burgos, 18, just moved into her own apartment and three months ago, she became the mother of a baby girl. She works full time at Design Lighting in North Andover.
All shared the same sentiment. They didn't want to apply for aid, but their bills and their paychecks weren't lining up.
"It's hard all around," Sweeney said. "Prices are high. It's been colder earlier."
Of the $82 million Massachusetts got from the federal government this year, about $4.5 million went to the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council, which gives heating aid to about 7,000 households. The nonprofit started giving out the money in October. As of Jan. 7, 283 households had spent all the money they received.
The maximum amount someone can get for the entire winter is $865. And that's after Gov. Deval Patrick increased that maximum benefit this year from $715 to $865 by approving $15 million to supplement the federal funds in November.
"I don't think I've ever seen this number of people out so fast," said Charles LoPiano, assistant executive director of the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council. "It's simply because of the pricing. A lot of people are going to have a lot of problems."
LoPiano said the maximum benefit allowed is barely enough to fill an average tank, which is about 250 gallons. New Englanders typically need at least 650 gallons to get through the winter, according to the data from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The picture is worse in Haverhill. Community Action Inc. Executive Director John Cuneo said that according to his estimates, roughly half of the families they help had already used up their benefit.
About 570 families had signed up for help, and about 244 were out of money by the end of December.
"We're seeing more middle-income families coming in," Cuneo said. "With larger and larger gaps, we're having to say, 'We've done all we can.'"
That means organizations like Elder Services of Merrimack Valley, which acts as a safety net for those who either don't qualify for federal assistance or have already run out of the money provided through it, are already considering tapping into their emergency assistance fund.
"The fact that it's this early in the year is a concern," said Tony Palmisano, director of development and communications at Elder Services.
Heating oil costs are even stressing out the oil delivery companies. One woman at one of the companies said, "It's just too stressful to even bother," commenting about the price of oil.
Making matters more difficult, customers can't buy small quantities of oil to fit their budgets. LoPiano said even if those who get federal assistance have $100 or so left over after filling their tanks, most times, residents can't get just 30 gallons of additional oil because it isn't economical for oil companies to come to their homes for that amount.
Groups like the Greater Lawrence Action Council are pushing the state to release another $15 million in emergency funds early, to give each family another $150 toward the purchase of heating oil. There will be a forum on the issue at the Statehouse Jan. 16.
That said, LoPiano is still encouraging families to apply for heating aid at the organization's Lawrence office on 305 Essex St.
For a single person to qualify for assistance, maximum income must be $20,420 or less. For a family of four, the maximum income is $41,300. Last year, the programs served 138,693 households in Massachusetts.
And families are encouraged to take tips from people like Gladys Owler, 54, of Lawrence. Owler doesn't get any assistance with her bills. She said she's saved money by keeping her thermostat low. Before she leaves her home for the day, she turns her heat down to 55 degrees. She also keeps the thermostat at 68 degrees.
"If you're in the house, you don't need that much heat," she said.
BOX:
How can I save on heating oil?
* Save 10 percent on heating oil bills by turning down the thermostat 10 degrees for eight hours a day.
* Move furniture and draperies away from radiators so heat can circulate.
* Weatherstrip windows and doors.
Source: Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources
