State Sen. James Maroney and state Rep. Kim Rose held a forum on heating assistance programs Nov. 4 at the Milford Senior Center. Contributed photo.
State Sen. James Maroney (D-Milford) hosted a winter heating informational forum with state Rep. Kim Rose (D-Milford) Nov. 4 at the Milford Senior Center. The two lawmakers were joined by TEAM Inc., which provided information on programs to assist lower income individuals with heating costs this winter.
“This forum provided people in our community with the opportunity to learn more about important programs to assist them in heating their homes at an affordable price,” Maroney said. “Programs like the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program not only keep the homes of Connecticut families warm, but also it does so in a manner that enables them to budget for other household essentials and bills.”
The lawmakers took questions from seniors regarding affordable heating options and went into detail about the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). This program is designed to help offset the winter heating costs of Connecticut’s lower income households, specifically those households whose income falls at or below 60 percent of the state median income.
“These events are a great opportunity to connect with residents and remind them of the many resources our state offers,” Rose said. “For seniors who live on a fixed income, the state’s heating assistance program can make all the difference through affordable renovations that can protect families from harsh Connecticut winters and cut monthly electric bills.”
According to CT.gov, winter heating assistance pays for a household’s primary heating source such as oil, natural gas, electricity, propane, kerosene, coal, wood and wood pellets on behalf of eligible households. Interested individuals can apply for CEAP at TEAM Inc., a community action agency helping sign people up for the program. Eligible households may also be eligible for weatherization assistance, which can help in energy conservation and may lead to lower heating bills. For more information, call TEAM Inc. at 203-736-5420.