Southern New Hampshire Services

Additional Federal Funding Will Allow More NH Families to Receive Aid

CONCORD – Increased federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), will allow the state to help families and seniors currently on the waiting list pay their home heating bills this winter.

Initial federal funding cuts forced the state to limit immediate eligibility to families and seniors making less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level. The increased funding will allow the program to cover people up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level – although there is still the potential for a waiting list later in the season.

We are pleased that the importance of this program was recognized and additional funding was authorized. These continue to be challenging times for many families due to the unstable economy, coupled with high fuel oil prices, and the additional funding was very much needed,” said Joanne Morin, director of the state Office of Energy and Planning. “This increased federal funding will allow us to help thousands more New Hampshire families and seniors stay warm this winter.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initially allotted $14.7 million in LIHEAP funding for New Hampshire. Recent congressional action increased the funding to approximately $26 million, which is still about $9 million less than $34 million New Hampshire received last year.

“We must remember that even though funding was increased over our initial allotment, New Hampshire is still receiving less LIHEAP aid than last year at a time when demand is increasing,” said Joanne Morin, director of the state Office of Energy and Planning.

The Office of Energy and Planning will monitor the program to ensure monies are available for emergencies as required by law, and may be forced to again start a waiting list later in the season to ensure that adequate resources remain to address emergencies.

If you have any questions about your benefits or wish to see if you are eligible for heating assistance, please call your local community action agency.

Additional Federal Funding Will Allow More NH Families to Receive Aid

Increased federal funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), will allow the state to help families and seniors currently on the waiting list pay their home heating bills this winter. Read More

Seniors Count-Nashua workshop offers tips to keep your home warm this winter

NASHUA – Looking for ways to keep your home warm when the temperature drops? Learn energy-saving tips that help homeowners save energy at a Seniors Count-Nashua workshop scheduled for Monday, January 9, 2012 at the Nashua Senior Activity Center.

Representatives from Southern New Hampshire Services’ Weatherization Program, including Ryan Clouthier, Dan Girard and Paul Chalifour, will present the workshop. Also included will be information on home energy audits as a way to identify sources of heating loss in your home.

The Nashua Senior Activity Center is located at 70 Temple Street in Nashua. The program begins at 1:00pm.
Advance registration for the workshop is requested. Please call Beth Todgham, Seniors Count-Nashua facilitator for Southern New Hampshire Services at (603) 889-3440 x 629 for more information.

Workshop participants can come early to enjoy lunch offered by St. Joseph Community Services (Meals on Wheels) in the cafeteria at the Nashua Senior Activity Center. A $2 donation is requested for diners age 60 and over; the price is slightly higher for those under 60. Pre-registration for lunch is required. Call Steve, SJCS site manager, at 882-2106 to reserve your lunch. Lunch is served from 11:45am to 12:45pm.

The workshop is one of a series of free programs offered monthly at the Senior Activity Center. The workshops provide area residents with information on resources available in the community as they age.

Past workshops have included topics on managing money in tight times, senior driving issues, gizmos and gadgets to stay safe in your home, clutter control and being a grandparent in the 21st Century. All programs have been filmed by Nashua’ Education Channel 99. Programs are broadcast Mondays at 1:00pm and can be viewed on-line at http://nashua.ezstream.com.

Additional support for the workshops is provided by Southern New Hampshire Services, ServiceLink Resource Center, the Nashua Public Library, and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services.

Seniors Count-Nashua workshop offers tips on keeping your home warm this winter

Looking for ways to keep your home warm when the temperature drops? Learn energy-saving tips that help homeowners save energy at a Seniors Count-Nashua workshop scheduled for Monday, January 9, 2012 at the Nashua Senior Activity Center. Read More

SNHS receives HUD approval for Manchester, Lancaster senior housing

SNHS received great news recently when word came from Washington, DC that applications to build the final 16 apartments at Hallsville Court in Manchester and 20 much-needed apartments on Route 2 in Lancaster had been approved. Read More

SNHS receives HUD approval for Manchester, Lancaster senior housing

SNHS received great news recently when word came from Washington, DC that applications to build the final 16 apartments at Hallsville Court in Manchester (Phase 3 of three phases) and 20 much-needed apartments on Route 2 in Lancaster had been approved.

The New Hampshire Union Leader and Coos County Democrat reported on the successful applications and SNHS representatives are scheduled to go before the Lancaster Planning Board on December 14. Due to competition for metro units throughout New England, SNHS’ request for funding to build in Londonderry was not approved at this time.

According to the Union Leader article, the “grants are targeted to help non-profit organizations produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance and facilitate supportive services for the elderly.”

SNHS is doing its part to stimulate the in-state construction industry with groundbreaking scheduled in the coming days for 16 units of senior housing on Fairgrounds Road in Plymouth and 16 units on Alpine Village Drive in North Woodstock. Local officials in both Grafton County communities have been supportive of SNHS’ housing mission and have reported unofficially that there’s already great interest among town residents.

Completion and occupancy for both of these residences is expected in Summer/Fall 2012.

Heating Assistance released targeted to most vulnerable families

Community Action Agencies will begin releasing Fuel Assistance Program benefits to New Hampshire families this week, targeting the limited dollars to those families in the lowest income brackets with the most difficulty in paying their fuel bills. Read More

Heating Assistance released targeted to most vulnerable families

CONCORD – Community Action Agencies will begin releasing Fuel Assistance Program benefits to New Hampshire families this week, targeting the limited dollars to those families in the lowest income brackets with the most difficulty in paying their fuel bills.

“With a 50 percent cut in federal funding, there are no easy choices,” said Joanne Morin, director of the state Office of Energy and Planning. “We looked at a number of options for stretching these dollars, and allocating them fairly.

“In order to protect the health and safety of New Hampshire citizens, we will target funding to families most vulnerable to being left out in the cold,” Morin said. “We will also continue to push President Obama and Congress to adequately fund heating assistance for struggling families.”

The federal government has cut funding for the Low Income Home Heating Program (LIHEAP) also known as the Fuel Assistance Program, nearly in half. Last year, New Hampshire received $34 million. This year, New Hampshire has only received $14.7 million.

In light of that significant reduction, the Office of Energy and Planning (OEP) is instructing the Community Action Agencies to release benefits first to those households below 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Those households between 125 percent and 200 percent Federal Poverty Guidelines will be placed on a waiting list pending further federal funding. All households up to the 200 percent Federal Poverty Guidelines will be eligible for emergency benefits if they are in a situation where they have no heat.

This program modification will require changes to the software that issues letters to fuel vendors. While these changes will be made as quickly as possible, it is likely that fuel vendors will not receive official notifications until next week. Going forward, the Office of Energy and Planning will monitor the program to ensure monies are available for emergencies as required by law, and may be forced to start a waiting list at a future date in order to ensure that adequate resources remain to address emergencies.

If you have any questions about your benefits, please call your local Community Action Agency.