Heating Assistance Programs

2023-24 Heating Season

Application Deadline: April 30

Soaring energy costs have created challenging situations for many local residents. Some are finding, perhaps for the first time, that they are behind on their payments or need to make tough choices between heat and other necessities. Several fuel-funding programs are available, including Wakefield’s new Heating Assistance Program. If residents need assistance completing an application for one of the available programs, the Town has resources to guide residents through the process. 

Jason Stone, a member of Wakefield’s Health and Human Services Department, is a resource to assist with applications. Contact Jason at 781-670-4935 or jstone@wakefield.ma.us. Residents can also connect with him at his office at 5 Common Street, at the Wakefield Food Pantry in the Americal Civic Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., or by appointment. 

LEO, Inc

Massachusetts-based LEO, Inc. administers LIHEAP, a federally funded program that helps income-eligible households pay for a portion of their heating bills. Payments are made directly to the heating provider for oil, electric, gas, or propane. For eligibility information on LIHEAP and to apply, please visit their website or call (781) 581-7220. LEO Inc. is located at 181 Union Street, #209, Lynn, MA 01901. Applications for LIHEAP assistance open on October 1 and are accepted between November 1 and April 30 of each year.

Representatives are available to meet residents of all ages at the Senior Center on November 15, November 29, December 13, December 27, January 10 (2024), January 24, February 7, February 21, March 6, March 20, April 3, April 17, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.  Please call the Senior Center staff at 781-245-3312 prior to your visit to ensure no scheduling issues have arisen.

The income eligibility limits for the 2023-2024 home heating season are:

Household Size

Total Gross Yearly Income

1

$45,392

2

$59,359

3

$73, 326

4

$87, 294

5

$101,261

6

$115,228

Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund

The Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund is available to any Massachusetts resident who, because of temporary financial difficulty, cannot meet a month's energy expense and is not eligible for state or federal energy assistance. Funds can be used to pay for oil, electric, gas, or propane. Residents may contact the Salvation Army Good Neighbor Energy Fund directly at (339) 502-5900  for eligibility information and to apply. Additionally, residents can contact the Wakefield Senior Center at (781) 245-3312 or Wakefield Social Services Coordinator Jason Stone at (781) 670-4935 to apply. Learn more about the program.

An applicant’s income must fall between 60 and 80 percent of the state's median income levels. Income eligibility guidelines for the 2023-2024 home heating season are:

Household Size

Total Gross Yearly Income

1

$45,393 - $60,523

2

$59,360 - $79,145

3

$73,327 - $97,768

4

$87,295 - $116,392

5

$101,262 - $135,015

6

$115,229 - $153,637

Wakefield’s Heating Assistance Program

This fall, the Town Council approved $400,000 of Wakefield’s ARPA funds to be used for fuel assistance. To qualify for this credit, residents must apply for, and be accepted into, the LEO or Good Neighbor program. Assistance is available for all home heating sources (oil, propane, natural gas, and electric). Apply online!

Eligibility guidelines for the Wakefield Heating Assistance Program are as follows:

  1. To be eligible for the Wakefield Heating Assistance Program, Wakefield residents must first have applied to, and been approved for, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) through LEO, Inc. or the Good Neighbor Energy Fund.
  2. Once the LIHEAP/Good Neighbor Fund assistance has been exhausted, Wakefield residents can apply for additional assistance through the Wakefield Heating Assistance Program.
  3. The property must be located in Wakefield and the applicant must be the party responsible for paying the heating bill. Only one applicant per housing unit may apply.
  4. Residents must provide proof of identity and proof of residency. Proof of identity consists of a picture identification (e.g. driver’s license, Real ID, passport, etc). Proof of residency consists of a copy of their most recent heating or utility bill or a copy of the lease/mortgage statement.
  5. All requests for heating assistance must constitute an emergency, such as: endangerment of health, lack of heat during cold weather months, or other extraordinary circumstances.
  6. Wakefield residents may apply once per year and must reapply each calendar year. Approval of assistance in a prior year does not guarantee approval in subsequent years. The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department strives to meet all resident requests for heating assistance; however, final determination of assistance is determined by funding availability. In the event of a shortage in program funding, HHS staff reserve the right to approve or deny applications based on most severe need, even if residents otherwise meet the eligibility guidelines.
  7. Wakefield Heating Assistance applications can be completed online or via a paper application available at the Health and Human Services Department office at 5 Common Street. Paper applications will also be available at Town Hall, the Beebe Library, and the Wakefield Food Pantry/Americal Civic Center

If residents need assistance completing an application for one of the available programs, they can contact Jason Stone, Wakefield’s Social Service Coordinator, at 781-670-4935 or jstone@wakefield.ma.us. Residents can also connect with him at his office at 5 Common Street or at the Wakefield Food Pantry in the Americal Civic Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by appointment.