During last year’s heating season, milder temperatures and lower heating oil prices helped area residents stay ahead on heating and electric bills until March, accordingto one local agency that helps people when the federally-funded sources are exhausted.

This year — so far — has been different.

“We had a lot (of applicants in October) when it first got cold,” said Jean Johnstone, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown. Catholic Charities assists residents in eight counties, with the largest amount of assistance going to heating oil customers in Cambria County, Johnstone said. “This reflects how the majority of Cambria residents rely on heating oil for warmth and have older homes, which are less energy efficient than newer construction.”

In the past 12 months, Catholic Charities helped 840 households comprised of 2,281 members as it provided $142,754 in assistance. Of that total, it helped with the electric bills of 482 households helping 1,411 people — providing a total of $68,551.

The second highest assistance category is for fuel heat — 219 households with 508 members received $56,239.

The third category, gas bill assistance, totaled $17,963 distributed to 139 households with 362 residents.

This help, Johnstone said, is provided to households who are not qualified for federal heating assistance provided through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly known as LIHEAP.

“Generally speaking, we tend to see higher enrollment during or after snow storms or extreme weather,” said Ali Fogarty, communications director for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services in Harrisburg. “But it is too early for us to speculate enrollment for this season yet. We do anticipate to serve approximately 350,000 households this year as we have the past few years.”

During the 2017-18 heating season, LIHEAP provided cash assistance to 5,832 Blair County households and issued a total cash amount of $2,011,616. Additionally, LIHEAP approved crisis requests for 2,238 households and awarded $960,880. A heating crisis is defined as having less than a 15-day supply of heating oil.

LIHEAP is the first avenue of assistance for residents who need help keeping their homes heated. Catholic Charities assists residents in need in applying for LIHEAP first, but typically, Johnstone said, those funds are exhausted by the first quarter of a new calendar year.

“Currently, the average cost of home heating oil is $2.82 per gallon. For propane it is $3.09 per gallon,” Johnstone said. “So, for an emergency delivery of 100 gallons, the cost to us is $282. But to fill an entire 275-gallon fuel oil tank, it would be $775.50, something low income households would not be able to afford unless they were eligible for LIHEAP.

“Catholic Charities is currently helping households who are not eligible for LIHEAP and cannot afford a $100 minimum fuel oil delivery,” Johnstone said. Those in need of assistance are encouraged to visit the nearest Catholic Charities office where staff perform an in-depth review of household income and expenses to prove financial need.

“This also allows us to inform people of benefits and services they may not know exist — such as low-income electric or gas assistance programs. For households that receive LIHEAP, we will not assist (them) until all of their LIHEAP benefits have been exhausted — usually starting in January. LIHEAP benefits (cash and crisis portions) range from $800 to $1,600 per household.”

LIHEAP began accepting cash applications and crisis requests on Nov. 1 and will continue to accept applications and requests until April 12.

“We encourage anyone struggling to pay their heating bills to please apply today. Any household with income less than 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Limit and a heating responsibility can qualify,” Fogarty said.

When those funds aren’t available, Catholic Charities can help by providing $100 for a one-time, emergency delivery. An emergency delivery is an option when the person has no heat in their house.

“We advise people to get a 5-gallon can and fill it with kerosene for an emergency,” Johnstone said. “This buys them a day or two and provides time to make other arrangements.”

Donations to Catholic Charities Emergency Financial Assistance program are used in the county of the donor and 100 percent goess to help people in need. No money is used for operating, administrative or personnel expenses, Johnstone said.

“For many people, they may make $2 over the 150 percent of the poverty level needed to qualify for LIHEAP,” she said, and still struggle to pay for heat. Catholic Charities staff also assist those eligible to enroll in utility Customer Assistance Programs, such as Dollar Energy Fund, which has a higher eligibility level, so a person may qualify for assistance from that fund if they make too much money for LIHEAP.

The Dollar Energy Fund is financially supported by individuals and matched by utility partners, said Jody Robertson, director of communications. In Blair County, those partners are First Energy, People’s Natural Gas and Pennsylvania American Water.

Last year, from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, Dollar Energy assisted Blair County households with $80,656 in assistance.

Cambria County residents in 232 households received $82,558.

Between Oct. 1 and Nov. 23, Dollar Energy served 78 Blair County households with $30,662 distributed, while 86 Cambria County households received $34,448.

“October is typically our busiest month and we tend to run out of funds by summer,” Robertson said. “So October is pretty busy and as it gets colder, (residents) feel the urgency of maintaining service through winter. Our program is a fund of last resort, above and beyond LIHEAP.

People who come to us are a bit above eligibility for LIHEAP as our guidelines are 250 percent of the poverty level. Many times a person finds himself suddenly unemployed, or has an unexpected illness and can’t work. They fall behind on their bills; 93 percent of the people we help don’t come back next year. It’s a temporary assist to help them get back on their feet.”

Considered a grant, Dollar Energy pays the amount awarded directly to the utility company — up to a maximum of $500.

“If they only need $230 to pay their utility bill, it goes directly to the utility,” Robertson said. “It lessons the burden on their budget and helps them pay for food or medications instead.”

Staff writer Patt Keith is at 949-7030.