We don’t always see them, and they don’t always reach out for help, yet countless families and individuals in Berkshire County are without heat as we approach the coldest, darkest months of the year. While the extended warm fall made this year less severe leading up to the holidays, the coming months will likely present more challenges.
Fortunately, Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC)—incorporated in 1966 under President Johnson’s “war on poverty” as the Community Action Agency for Berkshire County—is here to help across three locations: two in Pittsfield (1531 East Street and, coming soon, 14 Maplewood Avenue) and one in North Adams (85 Main Street).
With a vision of self-sufficiency and dignity for all, the nonprofit’s stated mission is to work with communities throughout Berkshire County “to find creative, sustainable solutions that promote economic stability and alleviate the destabilizing effects of poverty.” Voted Best Community Service Organization by Best of the Berks in October 2024, the organization is still going strong, serving nearly 12,000 families each year, almost six decades later.
A tale of two counties
It may be easy to miss when you come to the Berkshires during the summer months or peak ski season, but the economic disparity between year-round and part-time residents is widening. As reported by the Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council, approximately 14,000 people in Berkshire County live in poverty, 1,800 are without a vehicle, 9,800 over 65 live alone, and 20,000 have one or more disabilities that significantly impact daily living. These economic realities make many full-time residents much more vulnerable during winter.
In addition, according to Robert Wood Johnson’s County Health Rankings, Berkshire residents (compared to the rest of Massachusetts) are more likely to face increased health risks due to unemployment, single parenthood, income inequity, and other factors. Even where the statistics are low or average, Berkshire County cities and towns have populations needing additional assistance in emergencies and fewer resources available to meet those needs.
The rankings also indicate that living next to wealthy second homeowners and visitors can “reduce housing options, distort local resource allocation, stress local cohesion, strain local and regional services, and contribute to a growing number of people without housing” (the single most crucial indicator of health status). Many individuals with limited incomes cannot afford basic expenses such as food, fuel, and medicine. They often lack support networks and community support systems to help them in adversity.
“Poverty looks different in every community,” BCAC executive director Deborah Loenczyk explains. “North, Central, and South Counties all have different challenges. We can look at each community separately and identify their specific needs.” Overseen by the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, BCAC complies each year with 78 performance standards that govern all aspects of the organization—namely, community involvement, transparency in reporting, administration of programs, financial accountability, and more. As part of those standards, BCAC is required to survey the community annually to assess service satisfaction, achieving a 96.7 percent “satisfied” or “very satisfied” rate among respondents in 2024. “We pride ourselves on our accountability, using less than 10 percent of our revenues each year to pay for administration,” she adds.
Keeping our kids “Berkshire warm”
Under its Elf Warm Clothing Program, BCAC provides new winter apparel for children 12 and under during the fall. (The application period for the 2024 winter season is now closed; check the website for future dates.) “No child should be precluded from going to school in the cold or playing in the snow,” Leonczyk states. Families can schedule an appointment to shop at The Children’s Winter Boutique at BCAC and choose a coat, a pair of boots, and a warm outfit plus accessories (mitten, hat, and scarf) for each child at no cost. Last year, the program served over 2,100 children in the Berkshires. Besides donating money, community members can act as sponsors: BCAC will provide the child’s age and sizes, and you purchase the clothing directly and drop it off at one of their offices.
Prioritizing having heat at home
“One of the most important services we provide is fuel assistance,” Leonczyk emphasizes. This free resource, known as the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), helps limited-income families pay their heating bills. All heating types may be eligible for assistance—oil, propane, electric, kerosene, coal, cordwood, wood pellet, and natural gas; households may be eligible even if their rent includes utilities.
The program runs from November 1 through April 30 each year and pays a portion of the actual cost of heating fuel used during the program period. All Massachusetts residents are encouraged to explore eligibility and apply for assistance. “We generally allocate all of our funds to our community,” Loenczyk says, noting that only 8,000 to 9,000 families (far fewer than the eligible pool) throughout Berkshire County sign up each year. “Young professionals and seniors often don’t realize they’re eligible or feel uncomfortable asking for assistance, but with the online application, no one needs to come into the office to get help,” she explains.
The Heating System Repair and Replacement Program is designed to help with emergency “no heat” services. Under this program, homeowners eligible for fuel assistance can have their heating systems repaired (or receive support in replacing them); the services are also available to tenants if both they and their landlords are eligible. In 2023, BCAC helped 7,425 families get fuel and emergency utility service support.
One senior, who had recently retired at age 84, admitted, “I was reticent to come here. I’d never asked for help before.” But she was able to get her furnace repaired and stay in her own home, thanks to BCAC. For those who get assistance, the impact is enormous, and the thanks sincere: “A very big thank you to BCAC and all involved for the new heating system recently installed in my home. I absolutely could not have done this without the help of BCAC’s program. Everyone has been wonderful and this gift has made a huge difference in my life. Appreciated beyond words.”
Emergencies often happen at the least convenient times, so a BCAC staff member is on call on weekends and holidays to handle emergencies after hours. According to Leonczyk, clients can also call a service provider directly and have the repair cost covered if the provider has a contract with BCAC and the client follows up with BCAC the next business day.
Supplemental cost savings
BCAC has weatherized over 7,000 homes in Berkshire County since 1979 under the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Paid for with a combination of federal and utility company funding, WAP aims to save customers heating dollars by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes and apartments. BCAC provides a complete technical analysis of the property and a prioritized scope of work and then issues a work order to qualified contractors to perform the work to high standards. Eligible work includes insulation for attics, walls, floors, and heating system pipes or ducts, as well as weather-stripping, air sealing, and minor energy-saving repairs. All work is typically performed without cost to income-eligible homeowners or tenants. Priority is given to households with elderly or disabled individuals or children aged six or under.
Electricity savings programs are also available to qualified households. Measures include installing higher-efficiency light bulbs and replacing energy-guzzling refrigerators or freezers. A separate Shelter Program (EFSP) provides one-time emergency rent or mortgage assistance and utility assistance for those in imminent danger of a utility shut-off.
All of these programs require an experienced team and careful oversight. A considerable part of the job is advocating for those in need—including sponsoring community events to increase awareness of BCAC services and traveling to state and national conferences to ensure the state and federal funding continues. For more information on how you can offer or receive help, visit the website.
