Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund open to eligible households for 2024-25; here is how to apply for home energy aid

CANTON, MA, October 29, 2024 – Sponsoring energy companies from across Massachusetts are coming together to support neighbors in need with the announcement that the Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund is now open for the 2024-2025 campaign to all eligible households. The Fund helps families and individuals impacted by a temporary crisis who don’t qualify for federal or state assistance with the payment of home energy expenses. The 2024-25 campaign year’s Fund disbursement is $400 per eligible household per heating season. The Good Neighbor Energy Fund’s 40th annual “Give the Gift of Warmth” campaign’s goal is to raise $500,000 and assist more than 1,500 local households.

“There continues to be a heightened urgency of need for home energy assistance due to higher prices for necessities like food and utilities, so we are opening the fund up now to all eligible households in the state,” Justin Stearns, Chairperson of the 2024-2025 Good Neighbor Energy Fund campaign and Manager of Credit & Collections for Unitil/Fitchburg Gas & Electric. Those in temporary crisis are encouraged to visit the Fund’s website at magoodneighbor.org to see if they might qualify for assistance. Stearns added that the Fund has raised more than $25 million and assisted over 96,000 households in need with the payment of monthly energy expenses since its inception in 1985.

The Fund is often the last resort for families who do not qualify for federal and state assistance programs. The Salvation Army Massachusetts Division, which administers the Fund for the sponsoring energy companies, pays the energy provider directly for households whose gross income falls between 60 and 80 percent of the state’s median income levels. For example, a household size of four would need to have a total gross yearly income of between $94,609 and $126,144 to qualify. For more information on how to apply for the Fund, visit your local Salvation Army Corps Community Center or call 800-334-3047 if you live in area codes 508, 617, 774, 781 or 978 or 800-262-1320 if you live in area code 413.

Participating energy companies support their respective customers’ generosity through various giving programs. Massachusetts residents who wish to support the Fund can “Give the Gift of Warmth” by using Good Neighbor Energy Fund donation envelope found as an insert in monthly energy bills, by scanning the QR code on the envelope or through the ‘add a dollar’ program some energy companies offer which allows customers to increase their monthly utility bill payment by one dollar or more. Customers can also donate online by visiting magoodneighbor.org or simply mail a check payable to “Good Neighbor Energy Fund” and send it to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund, c/o The Salvation Army, 25 Shawmut Road, Canton, Massachusetts 02021-1408.