New Coalition Forms to Address Crisis in Home Heating Assistance - July 25, 2008

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Advocates Join Forces to Prevent Human Tragedy This Winter State’s “Unmet Need” for Home Heating Assistance Estimated at $250 Million A diverse group of supporters representing elders, fuel companies, poor families, health care organizations, environmental groups and religious organizations across the state have joined together to demonstrate the critical need for significant increases in home heating assistance this winter in Massachusetts.

They estimate it will take $250 million to keep heating assistance at the same level as last year, which still left tens of thousands of families with empty oil tanks and caused well over 100,000 households to fall significantly behind on their utility bills, with the risk of shut-off imminent. Anticipated Fuel Assistance funding for the 2008-09 winter currently stands at only $83 million. Last year it was $137 million.