Programs & Resources are Available to Residents Who Need Assistance Heating Their Homes, Staying Fed This Winter
Programs and resources are available to Melrose residents who need assistance paying their heating bills, filling their oil or propane tanks, or ensuring their families have enough to eat this winter. Read on to learn more.

The Good Neighbor Energy Fund

The Good Neighbor Energy Fund is available to Massachusetts residents who do not qualify for LIHEAP assistance but, because of temporary financial difficulty, still find themselves in need of assistance heating their homes. Funds are paid directly to the energy provider and can be used to pay for oil, electric, gas, or propane heat. The applicant’s household income must fall between 60 and 80 percent of the area median income limits.

The 2022-2023 Heating Season income eligibility limits are (Household Size) Total Gross Yearly Income: (1) $42,412 - $56,548; (2) $55,462 - $73,948; (3) $68,512 - $91,348; (4) $81,562 - $108,748; (5) $94,611 - $126,146; (6) $107,661 - $143,546.

Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Known commonly as Fuel Assistance, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides eligible households with help in paying a portion of winter heating bills.

ABCD administers the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). ABCD serves the Mystic Valley cities and towns of Malden, Medford, Everett, Melrose, Winchester, Woburn and Stoneham. If you are an ABCD Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP) client, you’ll also qualify for ABCD’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).

How to Apply

Residents can contact their utility company to apply for an income-eligible rate that will provide a discount on your entire home energy bill. Homeowners and renters including households whose cost of heat is included in the rent can apply at the agency in their area. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program application is free. ??No fee is required to apply, and free help is available to complete applications.  Beware of scams by people charging an “application fee” as part of the application process.

Who is Eligible

ABCD follows federal guidelines based on your annual income and how many people are in your family. Your gross family income must be at or below 60% of the Massachusetts median income. The program can pay several hundred dollars towards the heating or utility bills, depending on income. Those eligible for LIHEAP are also eligible for having their homes or apartments weatherized and the heating system repaired or replaced.

For more information about these programs, visit ABCD’s weatherization assistance program click here, and to learn more about ABCD’s heating system repair program, click here. Eligibility is based on household size and the gross (pre-taxed) annual income of every household member, 18 years of age or older. Household income cannot exceed 60% of the estimated median state income. For example, the income of a household of two cannot exceed $55,461 and the income of a family of four cannot exceed $81,561.

Melrose Community Power: Enroll Today and Save Money on your Energy Bills

Melrose residents and businesses enrolled in Melrose Community Power (MCP) have not been impacted by the rate hike recently announced by National Grid, which increased their rates to 33.891 cents/kWh. This rate is significantly higher than the MCP standard Melrose Local Green supply rate of 11.537 cents/kWh.

In addition, the City of Melrose is under contract with electricity supplier NextEra Energy Services through November 2024 and offers electricity program rates that are fixed and will not change for two more years. About 85% of Melrose households participate in the MCP program.

Community members can save money this winter by enrolling in MCP by visiting https://mcp.cityofmelrose.org/ or by calling our supplier NextEra at 855-639-8058.

Savings cannot be guaranteed as National Grid’s rates change twice a year.

National Grid Low-Income R-2 Discount Rate

In addition to Fuel Assistance, there’s also the National Grid Low-Income R-2 Discount Rate. If eligible, residents can also receive about 30% off their entire gas and electric bills. The online application is here: https://www.nationalgridus.com/Discount-Rate-App-MA or residents can call National Grid’s Customer Service at 800-322-3223 to apply. The ABCD Fuel Assistance program will also help them apply.

The Melrose Emergency Fund

The Emergency Fund provides one-time help to Melrose residents experiencing financial emergencies. Most of the help the fund provides is for basic needs—food, fuel, utilities and rent. The fund depends entirely on donations from the public, and every penny goes directly to aid Melrose residents. All applications are confidential.

Learn more about the Emergency Fund by visiting https://www.cityofmelrose.org/emergencyfund and apply for assistance by visiting https://www.cityofmelrose.org/mayor/melrose-emergency-fund/webforms/emergency-fund-assistance-inquiry or download an application.

Additional Utility Resources
If you are behind on utility bills, you can call your utility company and ask about the payment plans they provide. Utility companies offer several ways to assist customers in paying their overdue bills, such as:

- Flexible Payment Plans
- Balance Forgiveness Plans

If your household income is between 60 and 80 percent of the state median income, you may be able to receive help from the Good Neighbor Energy Fund.

If you are experiencing an immediate loss of heat, you can call the Cold Relief Heatline at (800) 632-8175.

Community Meals
First United Methodist Church
Sundays 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
645 Main St, Melrose

St. Joseph Church
First Thursday of the month, 5–5:30 p.m.
173 Albion St, Wakefield

Most Blessed Sacrament Community Dinners
Second Wednesday of the month, 5–6 p.m.
1155 Main Street, Wakefield

Faith Evangelical Church
Third Friday of the month, 5–6 p.m.
200 Franklin St, Melrose

Melrose Food Pantries

Pantry of Hope at First Baptist Church
Tuesdays from 3—5 p.m., 561 Main St, Melrose, Melrose community members can visit the Pantry of Hope food pantry on Tuesdays from 3—5 p.m. but are encouraged to first call the pantry at 781-665-4470.

Veterans Mobile Food Market
Third Wednesday of the month, 8 —11 a.m., Memorial Hall, 590 Main St, Melrose
Please contact Melrose Veterans Services Office to sign up or for further information at 781-979-4186 or 781-979-4187.

Dates for Veterans Food Banks for Melrose, Wakefield, and Saugus are as follows:

January 18, 2023

February 15, 2023

March 15, 2023

April 19, 2023

May 17, 2023

A Servant’s Heart Food Pantry at Faith Evangelical Church
Every Friday, 10 — 11:30 a.m., 200 Franklin St, Melrose