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Vermont's Outreach Plan FY 2000 and 2001

Entity
Department of Prevention, Assistance, Transition, and Health Access (PATH), Office of Home Heating Fuel Assistance (OHHFA), the LIHEAP grantee.

Goals
1) To get the income-eligible households to sign up or re-apply for LIHEAP.
2) To help households avoid the need to apply for crisis fuel assistance.

Background/State-Related Issues
Vermont began direct outreach activities in 1996 in response to the state's LIHEAP reorganization in 1996-97 when it became centralized and predominantly mail-in, which resulted in reduced access and reduced caseloads due to program eligibility changes. Additionally, no aggressive program outreach had been done in the years when the program was administered by the Department's 12 district offices. LIHEAP director Richard Moffi viewed outreach as a top priority. There was a need to reach more elderly and also make heat-in-rent clients in public housing aware that they could get a $5 flat benefit, which allows them to get a larger Food Stamp allotment (due to the Food Stamp "fuel and utility standard").

Outreach Plan
The primary outreach effort is done by the Office of Home Heating Fuel Assistance OHHFA, which also has outreach agreements with five Area Agencies on Aging the Department of Aging and Disabilities, and five Community Action Agencies through the State Office of Economic Opportunity. These agencies do outreach and help households apply for assistance. The CAA activities include direct outreach to clients who received crisis fuel assistance in the past program year, but did not receive regular (seasonal) fuel assistance.

Training is provided for Department of PATH staff, advocates, and fuel suppliers. Three trainings are conducted by OHHFA in early July and supplies the participants with complete program information, regulations, application packages, and current income levels.

Outreach Activities
Below is a list of outreach activities undertaken by state and utilities, beginning in 1996.

State Activities
Mailings included:

• 16,000 Fuel Application Packages sent to households that applied for seasonal fuel assistance in the past program year;
• 575 letters sent to seasonal fuel assistance recipients who heated with firewood advising them to reserve wood for the winter through their firewood dealer;
• 19,000 Application Packages distributed in the summer to all Department of Social Welfare District offices, Area Agencies on Aging and CAAs;
• 12,700 notices sent to households receiving cooling assistance benefit checks in August to advise them of the application deadline for Fuel Assistance;
• 18,000 reminder notes attached to decision notices sent to food stamp and ANFC households reminding them to apply for Fuel Assistance; and
• 20,000 notices sent to households receiving food stamp changes in September advising them of the application deadline.

(Note: the numbers quoted above reflect outreach activity for the 1999-2000 fuel season.)

Public service announcements, recorded by the Fuel Program Chief, were sent to all Vermont radio stations; one run August to November and a second run late-January and February.

Media coverage was provided in press releases for various television and newspaper features throughout the summer, fall and winter.

"Vermont Heat and Energy Resource Guide," published in February 2001, a reference booklet for professionals who work with low-income families to help them meet their home heating and energy needs. It was produced by the Vermont Council on Rural Development and the PATH Office of Home Heating Fuel Assistance.

A website is available to provide general information about Vermont's fuel assistance program including how to apply, who is eligible, what is the deadline for applying, and how much assistance is available.

Utility Activities
Utility bill stuffers were inserted with summer or autumn bills to customers of Central Vermont Public Service and Green Mountain Power announcing the fuel program application period.

Word of mouth is provided by certified fuel suppliers to inform and assist fuel program recipients or potential recipients.

For FY 2000/2001, the same methods were continued, with increased numbers in each mailing; along with the following additional methods:

• Warnings About Firewood Shortages. Letters sent at the end of August to over 600 current and former firewood clients and over 200 firewood dealers urging clients to contact their dealers about their winter firewood needs.

• Budget Payment Plan letter for oil, propane and kerosene sent in June to approximately 12,000 households using a deliverable petroleum product urging them to contact their fuel dealer about a "budget payment plan" or a "fuel savings plan." Letter was also sent to all certified oil, propane and kerosene dealers.

Outreach Results

• 16,900 applications processed in FY 1998-1999
• 21,330 applications processed in FY 1999-2000 (26% increase over prior year)
• 26,305 applications processed in FY 2000-2001 (23% increase over prior year)
• 13,300 households received assistance in FY 1998-1999
• 16,760 households received assistance in FY 1999-2000 (26% increase over prior year)
• 18,483 household received assistance in FY 2000-2001 (10% increase over prior year)
• 3,980 households with at least one elderly member served in FY 1998-1999
• 5,030 households with at least one elderly member served in FY 1999-2000
• FY 2000-2001 numbers for elderly are not available as of 4/2001

The most effective method of outreach is direct mailing. Because the LIHEAP office is under the Department of PATH, and because the OHHFA staff are the ones who actually process the fuel assistance applications, the office has access to the Department databases which enhances its mailing lists to include food stamp, TANF, and healthcare program recipients, as well as crisis fuel for either heating or cooling.

As of September 29, 2000, dramatic increases in the prices of propane, kerosene and heating oil had lead to a 22 percent increase in LIHEAP applications compared to the same period in 1999. The program accepts applications from July 15 until the last day in February. For clients who have a "fuel liability" benefits are paid directly to fuel suppliers certified with the program. Clients living in heated rentals receive a benefit check paid to them. The annual fuel benefit is issued in a single payment, followed by a bonus benefit if LIHEAP contingency funds are released.

 Future Program Changes
Vermont is planning to implement a $5-6 million "Summer Fuel Purchase Program" in July for the 2001-2002 heating season to secure oil, propane, and kerosene at lower summer prices. Approximately 85 percent of Vermont's "fuel liability" LIHEAP clients heat with a deliverable petroleum product. This will create new outreach challenges to inform eligible households of fuel supplier participation in the Summer Purchase program.

Contact
Pam Dalley
Fuel Assistance Program Chief
Office of Home Heating Fuel Assistance
Department of PATH
103 South Main Street
Waterbury, Vermont 05671-1201
TEL: (802) 241-2994
FAX: (802) 241-4327
E-MAIL: PamD@wpgate1.ahs.state.vt.us

Page Last Updated: January 27, 2010