Heating or eating is no choice. It's just wrong that so many people in Massachusetts have to choose between heating, eating or paying for healthcare. Something is really wrong when healthcare workers at some of the most prestigious hospitals in the world also face that choice. That's one of the many reasons workers are coming together to form a union -- to win decent pay and benefits for all Massachusetts hospital caregivers.

In the meantime, please share this information with friends and co-workers who might find it helpful.
Heating assistance is available through the following programs:

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides income-eligible households with help in paying winter heating bills. Apply to your local administering agency for help paying oil, propane, wood, coal, gas or electric bills. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) assists low-income households in maximizing the energy efficiency of their homes. This year-round program identifies and remedies sealing, insulating, and health and safety problems in apartments and houses at no cost to the household.

Heating Emergency Assistance Retrofit Task Weatherization Assistance Program provides heating system repair and replacement services to low-income homeowners. Tenants in need of repairs must contact their landlords who are legally responsible for the maintenance of their heating systems.

To access the three programs above, call Action for Boston Community Development at 617-357-6012 if you live in the Boston area, or Mass. Community Services Unit at 617-573-1400 if you live outside the Boston area.

Citizen’s Energy Oil Heat Program provides heating assistance to eligible households. Call 877-JOE-4-OIL (877-563-4645) to apply, or visit www.citizensenergy.com. The deadline is February 29, 2008.

Citizen’s Energy/Distrigas Heat Assistance Program helps households struggling to pay their natural gas heating bills. The program makes payments on behalf of the household directly. Call 866-GAS-9918 (866-427-9918) to request an application, or visit www.citizensenergy.com.