Emily Shaw—New Address @ Granite Hills Assisted Living Martha Ballard Wing, 60 Balsam Drive Apt. 8,  Hallowell, ME  04347  (Phone 207 626-9230)

Aroostook Agency on Aging: Check out our Benefits Checklist – a guide to quickly screen potential eligibility for several Federal and State benefits that may put cash in the pocket of older people and disabled people. Access on-line at www.aroostookaging.org. Available also by calling 764-3396, toll free 1-800-439-1789.

Electric Utility Companies: Special Payment Arrangements may be made for electric service. During the period November 15 through April 15, customers who cannot pay their utility bill because of reasons that may cause their household to be deprived of food, medicine, heat or some other necessity can declare eligibility for a "Special Payment Arrangement". Customers whose income does not exceed 150% of federal poverty guidelines or who are eligible to participate in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may qualify for a "Special Payment Arrangement". Contact electric utility to make special payment arrangement.

Low Income Assistance Program (LIAP): Electric utility companies have low income assistance programs designed to provide bill payment assistance/credits to electrical accounts of households that receive a Federal LIHEAP benefit, are not tenants of subsidized housing and meet other eligibility criteria. Contact utilities directly to determine details of their program.

General Assistance (see page 5) can provide help with food purchases for eligible people.

residents of Aroostook County age 60 or older. Donation is requested to help with

cost of meal. Please call between 10 AM-noon a day in advance to assure a meal

will be available and for meal service time. Locations are –

Caribou – Lyndon Heights Housing telephone 498-8197

Fort Kent Senior Center, 20 Pine St. Fort Kent telephone 834-6453

Frenchville – St. John Valley Technical Center (temporary location, service will

return to Madawaska Senior Center when construction is complete) 728-3879

Presque Isle High School (Wednesday only when school is in session) 764-3396

Van Buren Community Center on Champlain St. 868-3931

Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP): call 768-3053 or toll free 1-800-585-3053 to schedule an appointment to apply for help with heating fuel.

After Business Hours/Nights/Weekend/Holiday for Help or Information: Call 211 for information on energy help. One telephone number – 211 – connects you with people that can provide information on a full range of health and human services. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week including holidays. For information on energy or heating assistance especially at times when most of the agencies cited in this guide may be closed, call 211.

Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP): call 768-3053 or toll free 1-800-585-3053 for help with heating fuel.

General Assistance (GA-Local Welfare) for Heat and Electric Assistance: Each city, town and plantation must provide for General Assistance. In unorganized townships, Maine Department of Health and Human Services has contracted to handle requests for GA. Non-emergency General Assistance has specific income criteria and income must be at or below these Maine Department of Health and Human Services designated thresholds to qualify. Emergency General Assistance (22 MRSA S.4308(2)) provides that "a person who does not have sufficient resources to provide one or more basic necessities in an emergency is eligible for emergency general assistance, even when the applicant has been found ineligible for non-emergency general assistance except (under certain circumstances)." It goes on to state "municipality may provide emergency general assistance when the municipality determines that an emergency is imminent and that failure to provide assistance may result in undue hardship and unnecessary costs." Municipalities generally require verification of who lives in the household, monthly income of each household member, proof of expenses for the month (where/how money was spent), verification of any money that may be in bank account. Contact your city or town office to apply. Residents of unorganized territory contacts follow…

Helping Neighbors: contact Helping Hands for Children and Families at 764-7664 and toll free 1-800-464-7664. Helping Neighbors is funded with donations from individuals, churches and businesses as well as special donations channeled through United Way of Aroostook. Provides small 0% interest loans to people with very limited income to meet their basic needs such as home heating, home heating system repair and utilities. Note: Availability of help is based on funding being available and is dependent on donations from individuals, churches and businesses willing to help. Contact Helping Hands to make a donation to this fund. You may specify that the help be limited to people in a specific community if that is your desire.

Salvation Army: contact Houlton office at 532-2322. Provides small grants to help with utility disconnects, evictions, heating fuel assistance, food and clothing. Note: Availability of help is based on funding being available and is dependent on donations from individuals, churches and businesses willing to help. Contact Salvation Army to make a donation to this fund. You may specify that the help be limited to people in a specific community if that is your desire.

Consumer Right to Fuel Delivery: Between October 15 and April 30 heating fuel dealers must make small deliveries of at least 20 gallons if you can pay cash on delivery or if you have a government guaranteed payment for the fuel (such as a LIHEAP credit or General Assistance Voucher). Even if you owe the fuel dealer money, the fuel dealer must still deliver fuel if you can pay cash on delivery or if you have a government guaranteed payment (such as a LIHEAP credit or General Assistance Voucher). This does not mean that the dealer must drop everything and make an emergency delivery if you call. It does mean that, at the latest, a dealer must deliver oil to you on the next scheduled delivery trip to your area. If you are an established customer (means you purchased fuel twice previously from the dealer) and the dealer regularly provides emergency deliveries or unscheduled deliveries to other established customers, the dealer must do the same for you provided you can pay cash on delivery and you order at least 20 gallons. If the dealer makes an emergency or unscheduled delivery, the dealer has the right to charge you extra, over and above the cost of the fuel. To make a consumer complaint to the Attorney General’s Office call toll free 1-800-436-2131.

Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP): call 768-3053 or toll free 1-800-585-3053 for help with furnace and heating system repair.

Credit Unions and Energy Assistance: Some credit unions are offering special low interest rates to members for heating system improvements and/or conversion to less expensive fuel alternatives. If you are a member of a credit union, check with them to find out what they might be offering to help with the cost of energy.

Maine State Housing Authority: telephone 1-800-452-4668

US Department of Agriculture/Rural Development Office: Presque Isle office services Aroostook County, contact 764-4157.

Energy Auditors (Certified by Maine State Housing Authority): Certified energy auditor can provide a detailed analysis of a home’s heating loss risks and recommend the most cost effective remedies.

Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP) Weatherization Program: call 768-3053 or toll free 1-800-585-3053. Provides assistance to LIHEAP eligible homeowners to improve home energy efficiency. Note: this program is not readily available, there is a waiting list of approved applicants.

Credit Unions and Energy Assistance: Some credit unions are offering special low interest rates to members for home improvements to save on energy costs. If you are a member of a credit union, check with them to find out what they might be offering to help with the cost of energy.

Maine State Housing Authority: telephone 1-800-452-4668

Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) – Offers loans through commercial lenders at a low fixed interest rate of 3.95% for home improvements that increase energy efficiency. Loan amounts can range from $2,800-$20,000 payable over 15 years. Note: no financial institutions in Aroostook County participate but Aroostook residents may work through an out-of-County lender. Contact MSHA for list of possible lenders.

US Department of Agriculture/Rural Development Office: Presque Isle office services Aroostook County, contact 764-4157.