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In the letter, Mass Home Care asked the Governor to convene a special summit to address possible responses at the state and federal level to mitigate the impacts of a “no heat-no eat” crisis facing seniors and families on limited incomes. Here is the text of the Mass Home Care letter:

“Dear Governor Patrick,

Seniors, and people of limited and moderate incomes generally, are rushing headlong into a crisis of widespread dimensions precipitated by the spiking of energy prices.

The typical retiree on Social Security makes just under $13,000 a year. One fill up of a 275 gallon tank of oil can cost $1,300. If that retiree needs 6 tanks of oil this winter, she will spend 60% of her income to heat her home.

Unprecedented spiraling of gasoline and heating oil costs have created a financial crisis for many households across our state–already. There is no immediate easing of this crisis, and we are growing increasingly alarmed that many of our elders and families will no longer be facing a “heat or eat” dilemma—but a “no heat and no eat” reality.

Inflated gas prices have had an impact on programs as varied as meals on wheels to fuel assistance. The cost of a homemaker or a care manager to travel to her client, the cost of a meals driver to complete his route, the cost of an oil tank fill up—elders on fixed incomes are now in deep trouble, and will be way over their heads by the Fall, when the cost of heating a home will be untouchable. Oil companies don’t take clients on credit.  Renters who pay their own utilities will go without heat. Landlords who pay for heat will jack up their rents as soon as the lease allows.

We are asking that you convene a summit on the impact of energy prices on Massachusetts consumers, especially the poor, to begin to push for state and federal responses to this clear and present danger. The consequences of no action will be elders freezing to death in their unheated apartments, and service programs running out of funds to help them. This is not conjecture at this point. We have already passed the tipping point economically for families relying only on their Social Security check.

This summit needs to take place immediately, and we need to involve our state’s Congressional delegation in this effort. We need to address the financial relief options available to us: increased outreach for food stamps; increased allotments of food stamps; higher thresholds of LIHEAP energy assistance, and higher income and asset eligibility for fuel assistance.  This must be put into gear now—not in the Fall.

The Commonwealth cannot solve this crisis alone. The federal government must divert its attention to matters at home, and take care of its people. The Northeast is particularly hard hit by the energy affordability crisis.

We are prepared to work with you to seek solutions for protecting our vulnerable citizens from these price shocks, and the prospect of an empty oil tank, and an empty refrigerator.”

Diana L. DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES concurs, “Unless immediate action is taken and aid is sought on a federal level, we fear that many elders who are now struggling to make ends meet on Social Security will have nowhere to turn.  We simply cannot allow that to happen.”

OCES operates more than 12 programs, which serve elders, their families and caregivers in the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman. 

Mass Home Care

For more information about Mass Home Care, contact 781-221-7077 or visit their website at www.masshomecare.org.

About Old Colony Elderly Services

Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elderly Services (OCES) is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization. 

The agency has 130 employees and operates more than 12 programs serving elders, their families and caregivers.  For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oc-elderly.org