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Date: 11/4/2020
CHICOPEE – Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) is offering help with energy costs this winter to those in need. Funded through the Department of Housing and Community Development, VOC offers assistance with heating bills for oil, electric, gas, wood, propane, and more to those in the Hampden County area.
VOC offers two programs under the energy assistance branch: fuel assistance and Heating Emergency Assistance Retrofit Task Weatherization Assistance Program (HEARTWAP), which is heating system replacement and repair. In order to receive HEARTWAP you must also apply for fuel assistance, Melissa White, director of programs at Valley Opportunity Council, explained.
Guidelines put forth from the Department of Housing and Community Development determine eligibility of these programs based on income and the size of family. Receiving fuel assistance would get applicants help paying their heating bills or even a portion of their monthly rent if heat is included in their rent.
The Fuel Assistance Program runs throughout the entirety of winter, with application acceptance starting in October and going through April. Those applying in October can receive help with the winter’s heating bills, while those applying in April are typically able to receive help paying costs that they already incurred.
Many families may be newly eligible for the program this winter due to the pandemic. White wants to inform as many as possible about fuel assistance so that they won’t have to struggle during the cold months.
“Our concern is that people might not know that they’re eligible. We’re really coming up with ways to get the word out so that maybe people who weren’t eligible before can give us a call and talk it through. What we’re worried for is that people might not even know it exists or might rule it out thinking ‘Oh I’m not eligible for that, I make too much.’ or ‘COVID didn’t impact me as badly as others.’ So we want people to call us or reach out. It doesn’t hurt to ask,” White said.
In the past, those seeking fuel assistance needed to come into VOC for their intake appointment and to give necessary documents. Now the process is done over the phone due to COVID. Valley Opportunity Council is open and fully functional, but to make things easier and safer, appointments can be conducted on a call and documents can be scanned, faxed, or dropped off if preferred.
“We’re still here ensuring that everybody can get their needs met and we can support everyone that needs support. There’s still someone available on the phone to answer questions and we have drop boxes available for people to drop off material,” White said.
White also emphasized the improved accessibility the program has this year.
“It makes it easier for some people who might’ve not been able to access us in the past. Whether they were coming from far away or transportation was limited, or we’ve had some people where mobility was limited and it's hard for them to leave the house and coordinate getting to us, so that has kind of removed that as a barrier. We’re hoping that can help some people,” she said.
If you or someone you know needs help with fuel assistance this winter, call Valley Opportunity Council to set up an intake appointment at 552-1548 or get more information on their website at www.valleyopp.com/energy-assistance/fuel-assistance.