Pols Pump Heating Aid Budget Boost

Low-income Connecticut residents like Marc Criscio who need help covering their heating bills this winter can now tap into a state energy assistance program newly infused with an extra $20 million.

State and federal pols gathered at the Community Action Agency of New Haven (CAANH) headquarters at 419 Whalley Ave. Monday morning to celebrate that funding boost, and to get the word out about the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) as the season changes and cooler temperatures kick in.

“People are turning on their heat. It’s fall in New England,” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said while standing alongside U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, Gov. Ned Lamont, state Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Deidre Gifford, and CAANH CEO Amos Smith. 

And as the thermostat readings drop, he said, too many Connecticut residents face an ​“unacceptable choice: Heat or eat.”

The reason for the presser, DeLauro emphasized during her time at the mic, is that Connecticut will be receiving a roughly $20 million increase from the federal government to help low-income residents pay for their heating and electricity bills this winter. 

That’s because, under DeLauro’s leadership as the chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee, Congress included an additional $1 billion for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the continuing budget resolution that that federal legislators approved last week.

“As long as I have the gavel and the pen,” DeLauro promised, ​“we’re going to increase funding in this area.”

Click here and here to apply for heating help through this program.

What exactly does this funding boost mean for income-eligible Connecticut residents?

It means Connecticut residents earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI) can apply to the state’s low-income energy assistance program to receive between $250 and $600 to help cover household heating costs.

The state makes these heating payments directly to utility companies on behalf of eligible individuals, Gifford said. Community action agencies across Connecticut then work with fuel delivery companies to make those deliveries to eligible recipients of state aid.

Gifford said that the $20 million federal boost will bring funding for Connecticut’s low income energy assistance program from around $80 million to $100 million for the current federal fiscal year.

“It means that we will be able to provide more heating help to the families who qualify for the program,” Gifford said. 

“If you make as a family of four less than $76,000 or as an individual less than about $40,000, you’re eligible for this program,” Blumenthal said. ​“You should apply. Heat or eat should not be your choice.”

Lamont agreed, urging eligible recipients to apply now — especially given how volatile energy prices likely will remain this winter.

“Take advantage of this program right now,” Lamont urged. ​“If you’re home, fill up your heating tanks. I can’t promise you what supply is going to look like in January and February. We’re in a very turbulent time. Now is the time to plan ahead.”

Smith thanked the state and federal politicians for the funding boost, and for coming by the Whalley Avenue social services hub to make sure that people apply for that aid while it’s available.

“This particular piece of help will save some families from being dislodged from their housing,” Smith said. ​“They’re having to deal with the escalating costs of the price of rent, and they’re having to deal with the escalating costs of the price of fuel and electric. They need your help.”

As politicians spent the morning pumping this energy assistance program, Marc Criscio — unaware of the reason for the presser — was busy applying for that very same pot of money.

An East Haven resident and former New Haven public works employee, Criscio told this reporter that he had come by CAANH Monday to apply for help covering his heating bill.

He said he lives on disability retirement payments that amount to only $24,000 per year. Since he can only earn an additional $6,800 maximum on top of that amount without having to reduce his annual benefit, he said, that caps his annual income at just under $31,000.

After taking into account his monthly mortgage payments and other necessary household costs, he said, he can barely make ends meet. Thus his looking for aid with his heating bill.

Criscio said he was able to get some help from CAANH last year to cover part of his heating costs. After submitting his application for heating help on Monday, he had nothing but good things to say about CAANH providing aid to those most in need.

And, with a smile, he had some words of advice given his cash-strapped predicament: ​“Stay out of trouble. I’ve got no bail money now.”

Click on the video below to watch Monday’s press conference in full.