“I just wanted you to know that you were the nicest person that day I came in to get my power back on. We have been having a hard time paying the bills since I had to stop working and your help was greatly appreciated. After I left your office, the rest of my day went smoothly and my girls were able to come home and take a nice warm bath that night! Thank you.”
--Client in Fairfield—

The lack of sufficient funds to pay for heat and electricity affects many other needs:

Housing, research in Philadelphia:
A recent study in Philadelphia determined that after termination of utility service, an average of 32% of the homes were abandoned within one year. According to 49% of the Philadelphia emergency housing providers, loss of service is a factor in homelessness. According to the Connecticut Housing Coalition, Connecticut has the 5th highest rental costs in the nation. Over 50% percent of Connecticut's working poor pay well over 30% of their net income for an apartment, according to the CT Anti-Hunger Coalition. This does not leave much left for other necessities.

Education:
It is difficult for a child to study and realize his or her full potential in a home with no heat or lighting. Homeless shelters are no option for children. According to the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, in 1995, 21% (3,370) of those living in homeless shelters were children. Homelessness can affect their lives permanently. Social isolation, emotional stress and family disruption are all factors that can affect school performance and depreciate a child's self-image and self-worth.

Youth Health, the Boston City Hospital Study:
Prior to assistance from Operation Fuel, many of our families were forced to choose between food and fuel. A recent Boston City Hospital study concluded that during the colder months, cases of undernourished children increased by 30%. This is known as the "Heat or Eat" dilemma that many families face during the winter months. A study done by the Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project concluded that 41% of low-income families with school-aged children in Hartford were chronically hungry and 35% were at risk of hunger.

Winter safety:
The National Center for Health Statistics reported that approximately 60,000 lives are lost annually because of problems associated with cold weather including fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, pneumonia, influenza and other infectious diseases and, of course, hypothermia. It is our mission to assist families in crisis to remain in their homes and make it through the winter months.

Foster Care, the chilling reality:
According to Timothea Howard, Lead Organizer of the Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative in Washington, D.C., for a significant number of households, loss of utility service is a contributing factor to children going into foster care. Families that are unable to stretch their incomes to pay for food, rent and utilities tend to pay for rent and food first, not realizing that landlords will report utility disconnections. Living without utility service is considered neglect, which results in removal of children from the home by protective services.

In Connecticut, there is a moratorium on utility service shut-offs. If a resident is below 150% of the federal poverty level, they can not be refused gas and electric service because of lack of payment from November through April 15. This is the "No Freeze" policy. Unfortunately, this policy does not apply to residents above 150% of the federal poverty line or to oil companies. Oil companies may refuse to heat a home because of insufficient payment and can demand full payment before continuing service. Many times, if the utility receives a partial payment from Operation Fuel on behalf of an applicant, this is enough to begin a dialogue and set up a payment schedule.

For information on applying for assistance please call 211 or the fuel bank in your town.