Many county residents face heat or eat crisis

    “I’m paying $333 a month … triple,” said Mrs. R. “I was paying $106 now I’m paying $315 a month … But, I have to dig into my savings — a lot,” added Mrs. C.
    After Sunday morning’s church service, two senior citizens discussed their skyrocketing home heating costs. Sounds high, and it is. But, they are the lucky ones. Modest resources will get them through the coming winter heating season.
Even though fuel prices may be stabilizing, they are still flying high in record territory. Some analysts say, watch out, it’s not over. Fuel costs coupled with the severe cold of a northern Maine winter, could add up to a formula for disaster, especially since many senior citizens have to manage without personal savings or government-funded, low-income fuel assistance.
On the heels of three community meetings last week when local leaders looked at heating emergency issues in Aroostook County, Governor John E. Baldacci avoided convening a special session of the Legislature late Friday by unveiling a $12.6 million short-term plan to address immediately ”the dangers posed by high energy prices this winter.”
The Governor’s plan will increase: LIHEAP benefits, weatherization programs, furnace cleaning and tune-up programs, distribution of “Keep ME Warm Kits” and energy-saving outreach and education. The plan also addresses alternative modes of transportation, voluntary alternative work schedules for state employees and business development.
But, there are no unlimited checkbooks in Augusta or Washington. One local banker said he’s not getting the typical calls about buying new cars, snowmobiles or motor boats. Instead, calls lately are from people of various ages about making “major changes to how they heat their house.”
Because of potential fire hazards, the Houlton Fire Department is gearing up to do free inspections for residents who resort to alternative heating methods like wood or pellet stoves, fireplace inserts or electric space heaters.
As inflation ticks up, budgets get squeezed tighter to meet energy, food and medical expenses. One woman who ran into Shiretown Baptist Church Pastor James Gardner at the supermarket jokingly said she didn’t know if she would starve to death or freeze to death.
That’s not as far-fetched as it may seem. Last winter, Military Street Baptist Church Pastor Randall Burns discovered the gravity of the problem when he learned of a family ripping molding from their doors and windows for fuel to keep warm.
“The fear of people freezing to death in their homes,” is what Steve Farnham says drove him, as executive director of the Aroostook Agency on Aging (AAA), to call for three summits on a potential crisis in home heating. The extreme nature of the problem is mirrored in the response of 200 clergy, local leaders, social agency staff and elected representatives who attended brainstorming sessions in Fort Kent, Presque Isle and Houlton on Aug. 18 and 19. They found that many community agencies and churches are already exploring the possibilities of working together to assist Aroostook County’s most vulnerable residents.
According to AAA there are 1,230 older people living alone and 469 older couples without financial means to pay for fuel through the winter. Additionally, there are 2,951 children in homes without financial means to cover fuel costs and 707 disabled people on fixed incomes, also without sufficient resources to pay for fuel. Add to that the unknown number of anticipated new applications for fuel assistance and the need for communities to pull together is clear since government and social services cannot solve the problem alone.
With all eyes on ways to soften the blow of unprecedented oil prices, community institutions will be vital in identifying people in need who are unable, unaware or too embarrassed to come forward for help. The relationship between Aroostook County residents and local churches will play a key role in meeting that challenge.
But, churches, social service agencies and municipal governments are also feeling the pain of keeping their own buildings from freezing. Town Manager Doug Hazlett says Houlton’s fuel budget for the year is already depleted, forcing the town to rely on surplus funds to balance the budget.
At St. Mary of the Visitation, Father Dave Raymond says he and the church’s Pastoral Council are looking at ways to re-schedule activities in their large building designed during another era when oil was cheap.
Still, the idea of “warming centers” in churches where seniors, in particular, could spend the day may be workable if churches alternate that responsibility. County Road Baptist Church in New Limerick and Military Street Baptist Church in Houlton have been looking into possible collaboration on a church fuel co-op and a warming center. Pastor Rick Carver says County Road has the added benefit of using donated wood instead of oil for fuel.
Another idea discussed at the meetings was home sharing during the winter since so many empty-nesters and widows live alone in large older homes. But, State Rep. Richard Cleary says a few wrinkles need to be ironed out when it comes to protecting government-funded benefits like Social Security, food stamps, Medicare, etc. in a home-sharing situation. And, what happens if the roommates don’t get along or someone refuses to leave at the end of the heating season?
Farnham said he was gratified to see groups of people in parking lots and hallways putting their heads together to continue the discussion on serving vulnerable neighbors, consumers and constituents.
Editor’s note: Future reporting on recommendations coming out of the summits will look at progress in local communities.