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How the government shutdown is affecting home heating assistance
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We're officially four weeks (and counting) into the federal government shutdown, and it could claim another victim as the weather turns colder: heating assistance.
Here's what you need to know:
Warming worries: Usually by now, states like Massachusetts would have received an influx of money from the federal government to disburse to families in need of help with their heating bills. It's called the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (or LIHEAP). And starting Nov. 1, those families would be able to use that assistance to get their electric, gas or fuel oil bill paid for, in whole or in part. But WBUR's Miriam Wasser reports that the money from the feds hasn't shown up — and that could leave many people in the cold. This assistance delay is "unprecedented," Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, told Miriam. And the potential consequences are dire. "You'll have people die," Wolfe said. "People won't turn on their furnace. They'll be afraid of the bill."
- Why this matters (especially in Massachusetts): Nearly a quarter of homes here are heated with fuel oil. That means paying hundreds of dollars up front to fill the fuel tank at least once a season. And while state law forbids utility companies from shutting off gas or electric service during the winter months, no such moratorium exists for people who rely on fuel oil. If they can't pay, they can't get heat.
- Who gets assistance: Households making up to 60% of the state median income — or roughly $99,000 for a family of four — are eligible for LIHEAP. Last year, more than 159,000 low-income households got assistance through the program in Massachusetts. More than half of the recipients were senior citizens. And 10% had a child under 5 in the home.
- Go deeper: Earlier this year, Miriam spoke to Lillie Bryan, a Dorchester woman in her late 70s who couldn't afford the $1,500 it would cost to fill her oil tank. Bryan says the program changed her life.
- Do you need help? You can still apply for assistance online or in person. All the details from the state are here. WBUR has a guide here, too.
Blame game: The State House had its own mini shutdown Monday. Republican state Sen. Ryan Fattman said he wanted to "send a message" regarding how Democrats are talking about who is to blame for the federal shutdown and the risk to SNAP food assistance. (More than 1 million Massachusetts residents could lose their benefits starting Saturday.) To make his point, Fattman called into question whether the Senate had a quorum (it didn't). That forced the session to adjourn until Thursday — when Fattman suggested he might pull the same move again.
- Fattman said he was upset that the state Department of Transitional Assistance website had a banner informing visitors that "President Trump is currently choosing to not issue November SNAP benefits that help you and many families put food on the table." Fattman acknowledged the other side is doing it, too. Still, he said, "I'm very disheartened with the fact that we're doing it here in Massachusetts. It's wrong, it's immature, it needs to end."
- Healey doubled down yesterday in defense of the banner. "My job as governor is to be straight with people in Massachusetts. The facts are that Donald Trump, right now, is refusing to fund SNAP even though he's got the funds to do it," she said.
- Meanwhile: The Trump administration reiterated Monday that it won't use emergency contingency funds to keep SNAP going once November hits — which is a departure from USDA's previously released shutdown plan.
Another one: Rick Jakious, a longtime aide to Rep. Seth Moulton, is joining the growing field of candidates to succeed his former boss. In the wake of Moulton's decision to challenge Sen. Ed Markey earlier this month, Jakious announced this morning that he's kicking off a campaign for the 6th congressional district seat, with a tour of all 39 communities in the North Shore district over the next month. The Boston Globe has more on Jakious' candidacy here.
Help wanted: Boston police want assistance to solve hundreds of unsolved murders dating back to the 1960s. The police department has a new website with details about 1,800 cold cases. The entries include the victim's name and some details about the crime.
- Anyone with information about a homicide is asked to call the homicide unit at 617-343-4470. Families who want to include a photo of their loved one on the site can email unsolved@pd.boston.gov.
P.S.— North Atlantic right whales might be critically endangered, but that doesn’t mean the scientists that study them can’t have a bit of fun. On Monday, the New England Aquarium released its latest class of named whales. The yearbook includes explanations of how they got their name, as well as fun facts about each whale. Meet Lasagna, Dandelion, Taffy and their friends. (My personal favorite is Cavatappi.)
