Committee Report CR-2

The Housing Committee held a public meeting on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 beginning at three o’clock and fifteen minutes P.M. in the Sullivan Chamber.  The meeting was held for the purpose of receiving information on Cambridge’s Fuel Assistance Program and any other help available to lower heating costs this winter.

Present at the meeting were Councillor Anthony D. Galluccio, Chair of the Committee, Mayor Michael A. Sullivan, Councillor Brian Murphy, D. Margaret Drury, City Clerk, Ellen Semonoff, Assistant City Manager for Human Services, Kathy Mitchell, Fuel Assistance Director, Department of Human Services (DHS), Paul Schlaver, Executive Director of the Consumer Council.

Councillor Galluccio convened the meeting and explained the purpose.  He stated that he would start with public comment, and invited members of the public who signed up to speak to begin.

Kathy Podgers, Pearl Street, stated that she found information about the HEARTWAP; a weatherization program based in Arlington that says it operates year round.  However, there is one application for Cambridge Fuel Assistance and HEARTWAP, and Fuel Assistance will not accept applications until mid-October, so she does not understand the mechanics.  She also objected to the NSTAR requirement that would require an energy audit to get credit for her energy efficient boiler.  She also noted that many of the people who need help do not have access to computers, so information on web sites does not help them.

Councillor Galluccio then asked Ellen Semonoff to introduce the presenters at the table.  Ms. Semonoff introduced Kathy Mitchell, Fuel Assistance Director, DHS and Paul Schlaver, Executive Director of the Consumer Council.  She distributed a written description of the fuel assistance available to Cambridge residents

Ms. Semonoff stated that for the last several years, the Fuel Assistance Program (Low Income Heating Assistance Program) has been completely dependant on federal funding through a federal program in which the funds flow through the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development to the City.  Several years ago, there was also some state funding, and there may be some funding this year, because there is a $20 million pending state appropriation.  Ms. Semonoff said this is a highly regarded program.  Cambridge administers the funding for Cambridge and Somerville.  She believes that the City of Cambridge may be the only municipality that runs a fuel assistance program.   Most are run by anti poverty agencies.  The program operates from November 1 to April 20.  Cambridge works closely with Menotomy, the Arlington agency that administers HEARTWAP, and its schedule does not prohibit timely application on the HEARTWAP program.

Kathy Mitchell then described the application process and eligibility. The program serves low-income residents at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level guidelines.  They do a re-certification mail out to families who received benefits the previous year in September.  New applicants have face-to-face interviews.  The program starts taking new applications in mid-October.  The amount of the fuel subsidy is based on family size and income.  This year the benefit ranges between $265 and $765.

In response to a question from Councillor Galluccio, Ms. Mitchell said that last year the program served 801 Cambridge households.  She said that she does not know how many were tenants and how may were homeowners, but she will provide that information to the committee.

Councillor Galluccio asked approximately how many residents, based on census data, would be eligible but do not apply.  Ms. Mitchell noted that tenants whose heat is included in the lease are not eligible, so there are many low-income tenants living in subsidized projects who are counted by the census but are not eligible for fuel assistance.

Councillor Galluccio observed that 200 percent of the federal poverty level is $38,600 for family of four, which is pretty low.  Ms. Semonofff agreed, and noted, however, that fuel assistance eligibility income is higher than some other low-income benefits.

Councillor Galluccio said that looking at property tax assessment data is a very good idea.  Staff should review the lists of homeowners who have received property tax exemptions based on income, veteran status, and disability or senior age.  This information could be helpful in identifying the low-income homeowners who are struggling to stay in their homes and could benefit from the Fuel Assistance Program.

Councillor Galluccio noted that the report states that because seniors tend to use more heat, they pay more in fuel costs.  He asked about other sources of assistance.  Paul Schlaver, Director of the Consumer Council, said that actual dollar assistance is hard to find.  The price of oil is approximately 20 cents per gallon more than last year.  The bill stuffer from NSTAR offers information about the Fuel Assistance Program.  All agencies that work with seniors and low income are trying to be sure that their clients know about the programs.

Mr. Schlaver said that there is more protection for people who have gas or electric heat, for example, shut off protection for the winter months begins October 15

.  He stated that when deregulation took effect, agencies serving low-income clients, worked very hard to be sure that low-income protections and energy efficiency programs remained in effect.

Councillor Galluccio asked whether the funds in the Fuel Assistance Program ever run out.  Ms. Mitchell said that the money is not guaranteed.  It is first come first served, but they have not had to turn anyone away for several years.  In the last two years Cambridge has not spent all the money that was available.

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to confer with the Assistant Manager for Human Services and the Chief Assessor with the view of mailing information about the Fuel Assistance Program to homeowners whom the Assessors list as qualified for property tax exemptions for seniors, disabled persons, low income persons and any other such exemptions or deferrals.

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report to the City Council on the number of Cambridge residents who received Fuel Assistance benefits last year, categorized by incomes tiers, and whether the recipients were tenants or homeowners.

Ms. Semonoff noted two other sources of funding through programs administered by DHS.  One is Citizen’s Energy, for which availability starts December 1

.  Last year through Citizen’s Energy, a client was able to purchase 175 gallons of oil at $1.00 per gallon or to receive $150 payment applied to their gas or electric heat if they had a shut-off notice.  A total of 150 clients were served through this program and received this benefit in addition to fuel assistance.

The other program is the FEMA utility program that makes money available at the end of the heating season.  Last year the grant was $9,500.00, which enabled DHS to pay high bills at the end of the season for 35 families.

Councillor Murphy noted that although there is slight increase in actual funding available this year, relative to the fuel price increases, it is a dramatic cut.  He expressed concern about the abyss that many vulnerable residents will face this winter.   He said that he agreed with Councillor Galluccio that now is the time for outreach.  He asked about wait lists for the Menotomy HEARTWAP program and NSTAR weatherization.  Ms. Mitchell will provide that information.  She said that HEARTWAP gets a specific amount of money for the programs.

Councillor Galluccio asked if the information about the number of households could be broken down by income tiers.  He noted that here are homeowners who are paying up to 50 percent of their income for mortgages, taxes, fuel costs, and other utilities.

Councillor Galluccio thanked all those present for their participation.  The meeting was adjourned at three o’clock and fifty-three minutes P. M.