WARM THIS SUMMER AND TRYING TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR THEM. PEOPLE SHOULD BE EXPECTING AN INCREASE IN THEIR BILL. IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN. FUEL COSTS ARE ON THE RISE, BUT LUCKILY MORE HELP IS ON THE WAY FOR GRANITE STATERS. STEP ONE FIND A COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP AGENCY NEAR YOU. THE GOOD THING ABOUT COMING TO COMMUNITY ACTION IS WE CAN SET YOU UP WITH ANY OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE AVAILABLE OUT THERE TO ASSIST. THERE ARE FIVE OF THESE AGENCIES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. RYAN KLUTH HERE IS WITH SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE SERVICES AND SAYS HIS LOCATION HAS ALREADY RECEIVED MORE THAN 6000 APPLICATIONS WITH 15,000 EXPECTED THIS SEASON. IT’S EXCITING FOR US ON OUR END TO KNOW THAT WE’RE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE AND WE ARE OPENING THE PROGRAM A MONTH EARLY THIS YEAR. IT’S HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY PROGRAMS CAN HELP WITH WINTER FUEL COSTS, BUT THE NEW STATE EMERGENCY FUEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED SO MORE PEOPLE ARE ELIGIBLE COVERING PEOPLE EARNING UP TO 75% OF THE STATE. MEDIAN INCOME. AND EVEN IF THEY WOULD BE DENIED FOR THE TRADITIONAL FUEL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT THEY MAY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE TO THIS NEW STATE FUNDED, STATE BACKED PROGRAM. BETH DANIELS OF SOUTHWESTERN COMMUNITY SERVICES SAYS SHE’S ALREADY SEEN MORE THAN 3000 APPLICATIONS IN SOME STAGE OF THE PROCESS. AND WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO HELP, THE MAIN GOAL NOW IS GETTING AS MANY OF THEM PROCESSED AS POSSIBLE. LET’S JUST APPLY. LET’S JUST GET YOUR PAPERWORK DONE. GET YOU IN LINE, BECAUSE THEN WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO ALIGN YOU WITH THE PROGRAM THAT YOU’RE BEST ELIGIBLE FOR. NOW, ALL THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FALL UNDER THE SAME APPLICATION PROCESS. AND IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO GET AN APPOINTMENT, EASIEST WAY TO DO THAT IS BY EITHER CALLING OVER THE PHONE OR COMING TO ONE OF THE AGENCIES IN PERSON. YOU CAN SCHEDULE IT THAT WAY. AND IF YOU’RE HAVING APPLIED YET, LUCKILY YOU STILL HAVE SOME TIME BECAUSE THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS NEXT APRIL.