Asking for help to heat your home

NORWICH, Conn. (WTNH) -- Trying to make ends meet in a sluggish economy is tough, and heating your home can get expensive.

Judi Fournier takes care of elderly clients for a living. It puts a roof over her head, but with winter coming it's not enough to put oil in her tank.

"Even with working full time or close to full time as I was I just didn't see how I was going to be able to take that lump sum and put it toward the type of oil," said Fournier.

"And that would be four or $500," questioned News 8's Tina Detelj.

"Oh at least $500," said Fournier.

She is among a record number of people seeking energy assistance at the TVCCA in Norwich.

"This year we've got 5,700 total households that applied," said Zack St. John, TVCCA. "Last year at this time it was 4,000."

While most clients are on other assistance there is a growing number of folks who do work, but who just don't make enough to heat their homes. Fournier was hoping to heat her house with a wood stove, but then she fell off the wood pile hurting her knee and her ability to do that.

"Lugging the water from the wood stove has gotten to be a task," said Fournier. "I've injured my left knee."

Folks who qualify can get anywhere from $300 to $575 to fill their oil tank or pay their heating bill. There are two programs: a family of one can make up to $22,000 or $31,000 and qualify, while a family of four can have income of up to 46 or $61,000.

Like many Fournier didn't even realize she would be eligible for the program. One thing they are doing differently this year is while the clients are with the energy assistance intake workers, those workers are telling them of even more programs they may be eligible for.

The help is much appreciated by those who say it's not easy to ask for it.

"When you have a place you can turn to and ask for help and be treated kindly it means the world," Fournier said. "It means the world."