A week after warm weather led to warnings of fire danger statewide, homeowners are finally starting to turn their thermostats up as temperatures drop.

But for many, the extra expense to heat their homes is a tough ask. That’s why state and local agencies are making their annual nudge encouraging eligible residents to apply for fuel assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Program.

HEAP, offered in Hampshire and Franklin counties through Greenfield-based Community Action Pioneer Valley, is a free service that helps homeowners and renters pay a portion of winter heating costs for income-eligible households.

Executive Director Clare Higgins recommends that people who think they might need financial help this winter to start off with a full tank now and take the time to apply.

“Pay for a full tank, make sure your application is in, and know it takes a lot of time,” said Higgins.

She warns that heating assistance will never cover the full cost of heating, but is a means to alleviate the burden experienced by low income individuals and families.

Community Action provides fuel assistance for residents in Hampshire and Franklin counties, while other organizations, including Valley Opportunity Council, cover Hampden County. The money comes from the federal government and is funneled to nonprofits like Community Action.

Applications for HEAP opened on Oct. 1, and offers heating assistance from Nov. 1 through April 30. Applicants receive aid based on income, and must be a renter or homeowner. At least one person in the household must prove U.S. citizenship. On average the organization connects 7,000 to fuel assistance.

Higgins also said the agency is helping more senior citizens than it used to.

“A significant portion of the people who receive fuel assistance through us are seniors,” she said, noting that 61% of those assisted last winter were elderly and is a “growing sector” which has sought aid.

However, Higgins said, families with young children receiving aid is “kind of declining because the number of children in western Mass are going down.”

Heat Up campaign

At the same time as it processes fuel assistance applications, Community Action is set to launch a local campaign called Heat Up to raise additional money to cover demand once federal funds dry up.

Heat Up offers financial assistance for individuals referred to Community Action, rather than mandating an application as required through HEAP. The Heat Up fund allows Community Action to distribute funds to those desperately in need, some of whom may not qualify for HEAP.

Higgins said the agency has seen an upward trend in recent years both in need and in generosity of donors. When she started her job as executive director a decade ago, Higgins said Community Action would raise about $8,000 for its Heat Up campaign.

This year’s goal, however, is to raise $150,000, or $50,000 more than last year. A year ago the extra money was used to assist 142 households pay heating bills, prevent utilities being shut off, and avoid eviction for late payments.

“We’re raising more and we’re spending more because the need is great,” Higgins said, noting that poverty has risen in recent years due to the pandemic, high inflation, and higher costs of living in the area.

She said the need is greater this year because pandemic-era funding has officially run out.

“During COVID we had additional federal dollars ... and the state also gave us some tax dollars to supplement the federal dollars,” said Higgins. “Now we’re back to the baseline federal allocation of dollars.”

“Right now we are really trying to raise money for Heat Up, because this is the time when people realize they have gaps in their ability to pay,” she said.

One fundraising event that’s part of the campaign is a “Fuel Up for Heat Up” initiative in which several restaurants will donate a share of profits made from Dec. 2-5.

Participating restaurants include Local Burger in Northampton; Mesa Verde of Greenfield; Leo’s Table in Northampton and Deerfield; Bueno Y Sano in Northampton, Deerfield, Amherst and West Springfield; India House in Northampton; and Eastside Grill in Northampton and Amherst.

Additionally, any donations made between Dec 2-8 will also be matched up to $25,000 by an anonymous Northampton donor.

For more information or to apply for heating assistance, visit Community Action online or visit in person at 377 Main St., Greenfield.

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com