Frederick W. Smith Poor Fund
Home Heating Assistance Program
by Jen Shenk
At a recent Selectmen's meeting we were reminded about the Westminster HHAP (Home Heating Assistance Program). This is a heating assistance program to benefit Westminster residents struggling in this economy and needing help with paying for heat this winter. The program is managed and administered by the Westminster Town Benefit/Neighbors Helping Neighbors Committee, but is paid for with Town money.
To be eligible for the program, applicants must have been Westminster residents for at least six months and qualify under the HUD low income guidelines for this area.
| Number in Family | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Annual Income | $43,450 | $49,700 | $55,900 | $62,100 | $67,050 | $72,050 |
People must ask directly for help from the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Town Benefit Fund Committee. The NHN folks will assist residents in exhausting all other avenues of help first. As with everything related to funding requests through NHN, all requests will be kept confidential. View and print the application by clicking here.
Selectman John Fairbanks originally came up with the idea of helping people pay for heating during the 2009 - 2009 winter season when he identified the Frederick W. Smith Poor Fund as a potential source of funding.
This fund was created in 1922, when local farmer Frederick W. Smith left most of his estate to the Town of Westminster. In 1916, his will stated that his money, which amounted to $33,134, was to be invested as a permanent fund, with the income being used for the “support and maintenance of the poor of the town.”
Please note that although the Town has given the NHN folks the power to administer the funds, NHN still welcomes contributions year-round.
Revised 12/09
TOWN OF WESTMINSTER
HOME HEATING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
The Westminster Board of Selectmen has instituted a Home Heating Assistance Program (HHAP) for eligible Westminster residents. Initial funding for the program will be obtained from monies available in the Frederick W. Smith Fund, which was bequeathed to the Town in 1921 to assist the needy. To be eligible, residents must have lived in Town for the past six months or longer,
and must meet income eligibility guidelines established by the most current HUD low-income limits for the Westminster area. Assistance will be granted in the form of direct payment from the Town to suppliers of home heating fuel (including, oil, gas, coal, wood, etc.).
The HHAP will be administered through Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a well-established local non-profit organization. Applicants must contact Neighbors Helping Neighbors directly to obtain an application and to arrange an interview. Information provided will be kept confidential.
All funds for the Home Heating Assistance Program will remain in the custody of the Town and will be disbursed through the Town’s normal vendor payment process.
If you are in need of assistance, please contact one of the following members of Neighbors Helping Neighbors:
Sam Albert …………. (978) 874-0001
Peter Giammalvo …... (978) 874-1732
Nancy Green ……..… (978) 874-5864
Dick Holroyd ……..… (978) 874-2466
Bob Cudak …..……… (978) 874-0022
Laura Delorey ….…… (978) 874-5868
Tammy Dwelly ……... (978) 874-0542