Catholic Charities – Albany Heating Fund Program Fuels Homes and Hearts

By Christine Berardi

The organization addresses basic human needs and delivers numerous services and programs to all residents especially the poor and vulnerable living in the Albany diocese for more than 105 years. The Emergency Energy Assistance Program gives a warm helping hand and a blessing to residents in need. In recent years, requests for emergency energy assistance have significantly increased especially since the beginning of the pandemic. National Grid Foundation has responded increasing its gift to all its heating fund agencies: Catholic Charities of the

Diocese of Albany, United Way of Long Island and United Way of Merrimack Valley & Mass Bay.

Catholic Charities’ Emergency Energy Assistance is a lifeline to low-to-modest income residents experiencing overwhelming financial burden arising from hardship conditions. These households spend a significant and disproportionate percentage of their net income on housing and utilities costs. Three major factors include inflation and increase in utility costs, negligible cost-of-living increases and the end of pandemic-related safety-net programs.

The staff at Catholic Charities sees the results and the impact on residents. Penny McKnight is a Catholic Charities – Albany employee who assists residents with one-time, fuel neutral emergency heating assistance grants.

“As an Emergency Assistance Community Navigator at Catholic Charities, I work in our Sidney office in Delaware County. Delaware County is a huge, rural county, the size of Rhode Island and has very few resources to help people who are in need,” said McKnight. “I am thankful for National Grid Foundation as we have been able to help people who need assistance. I have helped several clients during this past winter keep their electric on and obtain heat.”

She also shares the stories of two recipients that Catholic Charities was able to assist thanks to the National Grid Foundation’s grant.

A single mom with a young autistic child came to Catholic Charities. Their place of residence was not a good place for the son as there was no place for him to play outside safely. When the mom found a new place to live, she had to pay a security deposit for the propane used for heating, hot water, and cooking. She couldn’t afford to pay this deposit and had to pay the security deposit and first month’s rent for the new apartment. Catholic Charities was able to pay the propane security deposit which allowed them to complete this move, which is a safer place for her son to live.

In January, Timothy, Maryann and three children visited Catholic Charities looking for assistance with fuel oil. Maryann has MS. They had recently taken over ownership of Timothy’s father’s house after he passed away. With the extra funeral costs and an unexpected car repair, they were unable to pay for a fuel oil delivery. With Timothy’s job and Maryann’s Social Security Disability income, they were over the income limit for HEAP assistance. Catholic Charities was able to assist this family with a fuel oil delivery in the middle of the winter. ❧

Recipients are appreciative of Catholic Charities — Albany and the Emergency Energy Assistance Program. Below are two thank you letters.

Hello Andrea,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and your team at Catholic Charities again for all your help. You were an amazing source of support both emotionally and financially at a very difficult time in my life. Reaching out to National Grid, SNAP and for rental assistance for me was truly going above and beyond. I hope to be able to pay it all forward one day. You are always in my prayers. Thank you!

Hello:

I am so very thankful and very appreciative for the help of Penny at Catholic Charities and Carolyn for the help they gave me to help me get my electric turned back on, due to it being shut off because of a financial struggle. Without these programs and wonderful people, people like myself who work hard and struggle to pay bills and feed their kids would have a very difficult time. I am thankful to have them find a grant that helps people in time of need. Thank you for all you do for the community.