Nova Scotians will continue to get emergency home heating help this winter, thanks to the Good Neighbour Energy Fund.

Government, Nova Scotia Power and the Salvation Army are partnering to provide financial assistance to those most in need of emergency home heating assistance.

“This fund recognizes that emergencies can happen to anyone at any time and helps ensure Nova Scotians are able to stay warm in an emergency heating situation,” said Service Nova Scotia Minister Mark Furey.

Last year the program helped 1,604 citizens and families heat their homes. This year government is contributing up to $800,000 to the fund. Nova Scotia Power is providing $150,000.

“We are very grateful to our partners who provide the funding for this program”, said Maj. Wade Budgell, divisional commander, Salvation Army. “Their continued support allowed us to help over 1,600 people last year who had no other way to pay for heat during the months of January to April.”

To receive support, an applicant must not have received assistance from the program for two years and must fall below certain income levels.

“We know that there are Nova Scotians who have difficulty making ends meet and we take our mandate to assist those who need help heating their homes very seriously,” said Nova Scotia Power president and CEO Karen Hutt. “That’s why we created the Good Neighbour Energy Fund in 1997, and the Homewarming program, which last year provided energy-saving retrofits to 446 electrically heated homes belonging to Nova Scotians most in need.”

The Good Neighbour Energy Fund runs from Jan. 15 to April 30. For more information, visit http://www.salvationarmy.ca/maritime/gnef/.

Nova Scotians may also be eligible for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program to help with up to $200 toward home heating costs. A new online application is available this year. To learn more and to apply, visit www.novascotia.ca/heatinghelp.

Source: Release