High fuel costs, a lack of federal funding and a particularly harsh start to the winter have struggling families applying and qualifying for home heating fuel assistance — only to be told the money is not there to help fill their tanks.
Judy Scothorne, the fuel assistance director for Community Action Program of Belknap-Merrimack Counties, said her agency is still processing and accepting applications, but she noted that a lack of funding has made it impossible for them to enroll and grant benefits to an increasing number of people seeking help in heating their homes.
"I want to make it clear that we aren't closed down [but] we just can't enroll people ... we are awaiting more federal money to come through," said Scothorne.
Scothorne said fuel assistance funds come from the federal government are block granted to the state, which allocates the money to various Community Action Programs throughout New Hampshire.
She said the problem comes with the fact that Congress has not passed a budget so CAP programs are currently operating on a "continuing resolution" — meaning that funding is based on last year's grants.
"In past years, we've got 90 percent of [prior year] amounts, but this year we only got 75 percent of last year's grant until they can settle on a budget," said Scothorne.
The waiting game has combined with high fuel prices and unseasonably cold temperatures to create the perfect storm for those applying for fuel assistance.
Scothorne said Belknap-Merrimack CAP has taken about 400 more applications than they did a year ago at this time and, of the 3,400 total applications received, about 500 come from people who are new to the system.
"We are seeing a whole lot of new people," said Scothorne.
She said gas and fuel prices seem to be driving the problem and a recent release from the federal Energy Department estimates that oil costs will jump about 26 percent this winter, resulting in an average increase of about $375 per customer.
Scothorne said the price increase is hitting residents hard, as she noted that "nobody's salary has gone up 30-40 percent".
Last year's Belknap-Merrimack CAP fuel assistance caseload was around 6,000 and this year's numbers are on pace to surpass that easily.
The government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program would get roughly $409 million more in a year-end budget currently being put before Congress, but Scothorne said that money is not going to be a quick fix.
"That will go into emergency funding and not the regular grant that comes to the state. It would need to be released by [President George Bush] under special circumstances," said Scothorne, adding that the regular budget needs to be passed to get the grant money needed to enroll people in the program.
She said the average benefit for fuel assistance runs about $500 and is based on a complicated formula that factors in the type, size and location of a dwelling in the state, the type of fuel and the income of the person applying.
"That average $500 grant doesn't even give you a fill [of your tank]. It's one delivery, maximum, or less. It doesn't go very far, and we still have a long, cold winter ahead," said Scothorne.
When asked about the timeline for CAP programs getting the money, she responded: "It's Congress."
The situation is no different for the Tri-County Community Action Program which covers North Country counties like Grafton and Carroll.
Kathleen McCosh, the director of Tri-County's fuel assistant program, said they are still accepting applications, but are currently "wait-listing" people because "we don't have enough money".
"The calls to all of our offices are steady ... they are out straight," said McCosh.
McCosh said the weather seems to have less to do with the demand than the high cost of fuel.
"People are panic-struck," explained McCosh, adding that people nevertheless should continue to apply if they need help.
