New England Farm Workers' Council
473 Main St. Floor 3
Fitchburg, MA 01420
(978) 342-4250 Fax - (978) 343-8615
WHO? The NEFWC Fuel Assistance Program serves households who meet income guidelines. Eligibility is based on household size and gross (before taxes and deductions) income though some other factors may play a role in eligibility. Whether you own your home or rent you can apply. Whether you pay for your heat or your heat is included in your rent you can apply. You may not be eligible if you live in subsidized housing AND your heat is included in your rent.
WHAT? Assistance is provided to eligible households toward their primary source of heat, or rent, if the heat is included in the rent. This assistance is not intended to pay all of your heating costs. Assistance toward a secondary heat source is provided only in certain emergency situations, or at the end of the heating season in some years. You will receive a discount rate on your utility bills, if you receive service from a public utility, i.e., National Grid or Unitil. You may receive weatherization of your home or apartment; and burner repair or replacement if you are a homeowner.
WHEN? Applications are taken by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Call, write or stop in at NEFWC to make an appointment. Applications will be taken through April 30.
WHERE? Intake sites are scattered throughout the region. No telephone calls are accepted at the intake sites. You must call NEFWC to make all appointments. The NEFWC Fuel Assistance Program in north central Massachusetts serves the following cities and towns: Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Barre, Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hardwick, Harvard, Hubbardston, Lancaster, Leominster, Lunenburg, New Braintree, Petersham, Phillipston, Princeton, Royalston, Shirley, Sterling, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster, and Winchendon.
HOW? If you applied for Fuel Assistance with NEFWC last year. you should receive or should have received your application in the mail by the end of October unless your heat is included in your rent. Those applications will be mailed in January. If you have not received your application by then, call and another will be mailed to you. If you have a scheduled appointment, be sure to arrive on time at the correct intake site. You must document ALLhousehold income or money received for the four weeks prior to your date of application. When you schedule your appointment, you will be told what documentation to bring. Bringing income documentation of everyone living in your housing unit to the appointment will speed up the process of determining whether or not you will be eligible for assistance. Bring a copy of of a picture id as proof of identification for each adult living in the unit, as well as address verification for the person whose name is on the heating bill. Also bring copies of Social Security cards and dates-of-birth for everyone.
Only fuel deliveries made from November 1st through April 30th can be paid for with Fuel Assistance funds. Payments will not be made on a monthly basis. Payments will be made once per season sometime after February 1st. SERVICE CANNOT BE PROVIDED BEFORE November 1st.
If you are facing having no heat, call our office Monday - Friday, 9:00 - 3:30 or come to the office between 8:30 - 4:30. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE SHUT OFF OR OUT OF FUEL TO CALL! APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETE WITH ALL INCOME DOCUMENTATION BEFORE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE CAN BE GIVEN.
http://www.partnersforcommunity.org/default/index.cfm/fuel-assistance/
FUEL ASSISTANCE INCOME GUIDELINES FOR 2017-2018
978-249-4848 Office
978-249-9604 FAX
21 Morton Meadows
Athol MA 01331-2123
ATHOL-ORANGE HOUSING AUTHORITIES
1 PERSON - $34,380 5 PEOPLE - $76,693
2 PEOPLE - $44,958 6 PEOPLE - $87,272
3 PEOPLE - $55,537 7 PEOPLE - $89,255
4 PEOPLE - $66115 8 PEOPLE - $97,239
Office hours:
Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Two housing authorities, one website.