Fighting the cold: Pictou County Fuel Fund offers short-term assistance to households in need

NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — Glennie Langille has been bracing for a busy year offering assistance and support to those in Pictou County to heat their homes.

Since beginning their season this year on Nov. 15, the Pictou County Fuel Fund Society has helped over 100 people heat their homes. Of the 100 people who have reached out for assistance, 89 use oil.

“The last two years have been particularly busy. Last year, just to put some context to it, we had more people requesting help before Christmas than we had had the whole year before. Last year, overall, we had a 42 per cent increase in people needing help,” said Langille, the chair of the Pictou County Fuel Fund Society.

The Pictou County Fuel Fund is a volunteer organization that responds to the urgent needs of households who need assistance or are enduring the winter without any heat. The assistance provided by the society is supposed to be short-term, meant to help out households facing emergency heating needs.

It doesn’t matter what form of heating a home uses, whether oil, propane, hardwood or pellets, the Fuel Fund offers support to those struggling to keep warm during the winter months.

The Fuel Fund is the only organization of its kind that offers support before the new year. Langille said that while the Salvation Army’s Heat Fund is a very good program in its own right, the support is only offered after the New Year.

“We are the only charity or assistance that you can get prior to the new year. So, these people are already starting the heating season behind the eight ball. We would expect to see (more people reaching out before Christmas) because we know that there are other charities which may assist come the new year,” she added.

The cost to keep warm

According to data collected from the Canada Consumer Price Index from October, the cost of home heating fuel is currently at 1.778 CAD per litre. While lower than the cost of home heating fuel from the previous year, which peaked at 2.063 CAD per litre, the cost is still on the high end, especially when looking at pre-pandemic and pandemic data.

In November 2019, the cost of home heating fuel came to 1.045 CAD per litre; in 2020, the same month, it was 0.88 CAD per litre; in 2021, it came to 1.24 CAD per litre.

“I guess a year and a half ago, I had my oil tank filled, and it was 2.09 a litre, and I just fell over. It’s way less than that now, but still, it’s very high compared to historically, and of course, it changes over the course of the heating season, so it could be a different price throughout,” Langille said.

According to the consumer price index analysis for October 2023, released by the province on Nov. 21, energy and global oil prices have been decreasing. They are expected to continue on a year-over-year basis.

Despite this year’s downturn, the report added that Nova Scotia is in a unique position to feel all the fluctuations in oil prices – good or bad.

“Because fuel oil for home heating is a larger component of Nova Scotia’s consumption basket than in other provinces, Nova Scotia’s energy prices are more sensitive to fluctuations in the global prices of crude oil,” the report said.

The report also outlined the impact of the Federal carbon tax. While 2022 saw some of the highest prices for home heating oil, 2023 saw a jump in cost in July when the Federal carbon tax was implemented.

“I’m going to make this comment, which is in no way political, but when the carbon tax was removed from oil, the first thought in my head was, ‘Well, now these people know if they’re donating to the fuel fund, every cent is going into somebody’s oil tank,’” Langille added.

Neighbours helping neighbours

For Langille, the Pictou County Fuel Fund is all about helping neighbours and the community during the struggle to afford the cost of oil and other forms of home heating. The Fuel Fund relies entirely on donations from individuals, local churches, municipalities, schools and local businesses.

“The challenge is they will say, well, it’s food or heat. They’re choosing between the two. That’s the reality. We’re not talking about food or heat as a want; it is a need. And that’s what people are choosing between,” she continued.

While Langille recognizes that it can’t help everyone, it works hard to reach out to those who can, having helped 374 households last year, many of whom are working, low-income households or on fixed incomes.

“You’re hearing the same story,” she added.

Factbox

If you are in need of home heating support, you can reach The Pictou County Fuel Fund on their website: www.pictoucountyfuelfund.ca or by calling 1-902-616-4328. Donations can also be made through their website.

Information about the Salvation Army Heat Fund can be found at: https://salvationarmy.ca/maritime/home/programs/heat/