When they opened their most recent utility bill, Dianne and Robert Rode couldn’t believe that they were being asked to pay $500 for a month’s worth of heat, the highest bill they’ve ever received in 35 years of living at their home in Heath.

“It was astronomical,” Dianne Rode said shortly after a visit to Community Action Pioneer Valley, where the Rodes were among thousands of residents who are seeking help in the form of fuel assistance.

Sigfredo Anglero, 44, of Ware, had a similar reaction to his most recent bill.

“I thought something was wrong, because it was so high,” said Anglero, noting that as a single father taking care of two daughters, times are tough economically. “I just cross my fingers and hope they can help.”

They are by no means alone.

It’s been a record-breaking year for the fuel assistance program at Community Action, a sign that inflation coupled with high energy prices is putting a financial squeeze on homeowners across Hampshire and Franklin counties.

The Greenfield-based agency that covers both counties has received around 7,500 applications for fuel assistance this year, more than any other year on record. By comparison, at this time last year the agency had received around 5,500 applications, according to Peter Wingate, energy director at Community Action Pioneer Valley. First-time applicants numbered at around 1,900 this year, compared to around 620 last year.

Particularly striking is the 1,000 emergency applications the organization has received this year, which Wingate said is nearly 10 times the amount as the previous year. Emergency applicants include those whose heating systems are broken or have less than three days worth of fuel left and have yet to receive assistance, according to Community Action’s website.

“The high fuel costs have made it very difficult for many families to afford heating their home this year,” Wingate said. “In collaboration with the state, the network of agencies providing fuel assistance has made it easier to apply than ever before. Unfortunately, there has not been any corresponding way to make it easier to process the applications.”

The sheer volume of applications has meant processing delays in getting assistance money out to families. Wingate said the high number of emergency cases has required his office to shift staff resources to deal with those applicants immediately, further exacerbating the problem. He said other Massachusetts agencies who deal with fuel assistance are having similar issues.

Still, Wingate assures families that benefits are available and will be distributed.

“It’s been a difficult year, there’s no other way about it,” he said. “But we don’t want somebody to not apply when they are able to.”

To be eligible to receive assistance, households must have an income level that is 60% or less of the state’s estimated median income. For an individual, that number is $42,411, while for a family of four the limit is $81,561 or less. A full list of the breakdown for household size can be found at bit.ly/3HJz1Vm.

The increase in the number of fuel assistance applications this winter is also due to a delay in the mailing of application packets by the state, which went out in October instead of late August, Wingate explained. That left families scrambling to apply for emergency assistance once they began learning the high price of fuel this year.

“Everybody is scared, because (fuel) is super expensive,” said Ashley Drillen, who as Community Action’s applications and data management coordinator processes many of the applications for fuel assistance. “Just one delivery sets you back a grand for the season, and the thought of even trying to pay for another one is horrifying.”

Money for fuel assistance comes from the federal government via the Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Those funds are distributed to the states, which in turn distribute them to 21 community organizations that support low-income households in paying their energy bills during times of acute weather conditions. Community Action covers Hampshire and Franklin counties, while Valley Opportunity Council serves Hampden County.

Congress gave $5 billion for LIHEAP costs in fiscal year 2023, noting that home heating oil costs have gone up 65% in the past year, as well as additional increases in gas and electricity prices. The cost of energy services in the country remains high due to factors such as the ongoing war in Ukraine and inflation rates.

Massachusetts received $159 million of that $5 billion in LIHEAP money in November. The state added an additional $57 million in fuel assistance money for this year.

Stephen Huntley, executive director of Valley Opportunity Council, said the organization has received 2,100 new applicants this year, not including new applicants in Springfield, which the council expanded to providing service for this year. In addition to higher fuel costs, overall cost-of-living increases may also be contributing to the unusually high number of applicants.

“You kind of have to look at society as a whole,” Huntley said. “Utility costs have gone up. Costs at the grocery store have gone up. There was a spike in gas prices, so costs for people to drive to work have gone up.”

Huntley said Valley Opportunity Council has hired 26 new staffers to deal with the spike in first-time applicants, but those new employees require training before they can start helping process applications. The software delay in mailing applications has also led to a backlog for processing requests for fuel assistance, according to Huntley.

“You can never catch up if you have a bad start,” he said.

The Rodes, from Heath, said staff at Community Action were helpful and were able to clarify any questions they had about the process.

“I’m recommending it to all my neighbors,” Dianne Rode said. “I’m just hoping we can get it soon.”

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.

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