| Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc. “The Greater Norwalk Area’s Community Action Agency” Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now, Inc. (NEON a private non-profit organization, is the community action agency serving the greater Norwalk Area including New Canaan, Westport, Weston, Wilton and Darien. |
 |
| |
 |
| NEON, Inc. 98 South Main Street Norwalk, CT 06854 Phone: (203) 899-2483 Central Admin: 203.899.2420 Fax: 203.899.2430 Email: admin@neon-norwalk.org |
| More Residents Seek Heating Aid By Matt Breslow Staff Writer The Advocate Saturday, February 10, 2007 NORWALK -Applications for heating assistance are on record pace again at Norwalk Economic Opportunity Now after hitting an all-time high last winter at the anti-poverty agency. Despite this winter's mild start, NEON by this week received 58 percent more applications for heating assistance than area residents had submitted at the same point last year, Executive Director Joseph Mann said. Mann attributed the increase partly to fuel and electricity price hikes and an economy in which wages for poorer residents haven't kept pace with the cost of energy. Even a small increase in heating costs is significant for a low-income resident who is already struggling, he said. Additionally, Mann said NEON did a better job publicizing assistance programs this season and reorganized to improve its handling of applications. He said it's "encouraging" to see people taking advantage of the program. "Obviously, more people are getting the message . . . that they can, in fact, apply for energy assistance," Mann said. The amount of assistance available depends on household income and whether heat is included in the rent. Last winter, about 90,200 Connecticut households applied for heating assistance, according to a news release from Gov. M. Jodi Rell. About 76,300 applicants were eligible for benefits, which help low-income families. NEON had received 1,613 applications for heating assistance programs as of Monday, the same day Rell issued a statement criticizing President Bush's proposal to cut funding for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program next fiscal year. Bush's proposed budget would cut funding to $1.78 billion from $3.16 billion this fiscal year, meaning the state could lose millions of dollars for energy assistance, Rell said. The state Department of Social Services relies on LIHEAP money to fund the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, the governor said. "We had been expecting some $60.1 million, which itself was more than $4 million short of what we thought we would need, forcing me to commit state funds to make up any potential shortfall," Rell said. NEON, which serves Norwalk, Darien, New Canaan, Westport, Wilton and Weston, administers CEAP money locally. Other heating-assistance programs exist as well. Maybeth Wirz, Senior program coordinator for Westport's Human Services Department, said the town's applications for energy assistance hit an all-time high at 178 last winter. Westport had received about 140 applications by about two weeks ago, Wirz said. "However, with the cold snap, the applications are . . . up again," she said. Wirz said she assumes Westport applications will end up at about the same level as last winter. In addition to a highly publicized spike in energy prices, she believes the economy contributed to last year's record, she said. Westport received applications from more working families with one or both parents unemployed last winter, and the Human Services Department is seeing similar situations this year, Wirz said. She was dismayed to hear of Bush's proposal to cut LIHEAP funds. "I certainly don't support his position on it," Mann said. "It's bad enough that we can't provide health-care insurance for everybody. Now we want them to be cold, too?" The application deadline for state heating assistance is May 1. For information, call NEON at 899-2445. In Westport, residents can call 341-1050 to arrange appointments and home visits. Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. |