Office of Home Heating Fuel

Agency of Human Services, Department of Children and Families, Economic Services Division

Vermont’s Seasonal Fuel Assistance Program helps pay for home heating fuel—oil, gas, kerosene, electricity, or wood—for households at or below 125 percent of poverty, with funds from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Launched in Vermont’s Department of Social Services in1981, the program moved to Home Heating Fuel in 1996. Benefits are paid to fuel dealers and step down through the season.

In addition, Vermont’s five Community Action Agencies receive subgrants to run the Crisis Fuel Assistance program, for households up to 150 percent of poverty, and manage the ShareHeat and WARMTH programs to help with heating and electricity emergencies for families up to 200 percent of poverty.

During the 2008-2009 heating season, the Office of Home Heating Fuel expects to:
• process 41,000 applications for assistance
(up 26 percent from last year)
• assist at least 23,848 households (up 10 percent)

Employees: 10 full-time, 6 seasonal (14 FTE)

Fiscal Year 2009 Expenditures*: $37,171,901
(94 percent benefit payments, 4 percent administration, 2 percent grants and inter-agency transfers)

Fiscal Year 2009 Revenues*: $35,059,980
(95 percent LIHEAP, 5 percent carry-forward and refunds from FY08)

*Projected, Oct. 3, 2008; excludes $5.5 million of new LIHEAP funds

Need fuel assistance?
Go to http://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/fuel_assistance

Source: The Office of Home Heating Fuel

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