Tim Houston’s government quietly changed the eligibility criteria for the annual Home Energy Assistance Top-up (HEAT) fund, leaving many low-income Nova Scotians unable to apply for this year’s top-up.
For the 2024 HEAT program, applicants are required to not have received HEAT funding for the past 24 months, effectively changing the annual funding program to one that can only be accessed every two years.
That is how the program operated for years, however during the pandemic when many were without work the then-Liberal government changed the parameters to allow annual payments to qualified low-income Nova Scotians.
Liberal leader Zach Churchill who was in government for that change was blindsided by the move and feels the change will put the province’s most vulnerable people at risk, “Many people are relying on these funds to fill their oil tanks this winter, so without any public notice this change will literally end up leaving Nova Scotians in the cold,” said Churchill.
Churchill also feels the timing of the change couldnt be worse, “Power rates have climbed 14 per cent in the past two years, and instead of providing relief to Nova Scotians, the Houston Conservates are cutting home heating programs,”
said Churchill. “This government’s actions continue to prove how out of touch they are with the struggles Nova Scotians are facing right now,”.
“After the Heating Assistance Rebate Program was cut by $400 this year, more people will need help with home heating costs,” said Service Nova Scotia Shadow Minister Ben Jessome. “Nova Scotians should not be faced with having to choose between keeping warm and paying for other necessities. Without this support, more people will have to make that choice.”
Editors Note: HEAT funding is decisions are made jointly by the three main contributors including the Nova Scotia Government, the Salvation Army and Nova Scotia Power, with the Salvation Army managing fund distribution.
