Branford residents, especially those previously untouched by hardship, are feeling the dramatic effects of the two-year recession. Town officials in the field say they are seeing more “middle class” people in need of assistance — especially for the basics: food and fuel to heat homes.
They agree that it’s a segment of the population unfamiliar with such hardship. In addition some people may be too proud to accept assistance or unaware that they may indeed qualify.
The town’s service providers have been swamped this year and the town’s services, both public and private non-profits, are strained. The town’s top officials are concerned. Everywhere you turn, from the Community Dining Room to the crowded rooms at Canoe Brook Senior Center where residents come for help with their fuel bills, the numbers are getting higher.
Dagmar Ridgway, director of the Canoe Brook Senior Center, said she guesses that more than 50 percent of Branford’s population, which totals almost 30,000, “might” qualify for fuel assistance, depending on their assets and whether they’re in crisis.
Eight different options are available to help with payment of heating bills. A brochure can be downloaded at this site.
At the Community Dining Room, Executive Director Pat Kral says participation is up 13 percent since last fall. She says attendance reached 100 last week, adding that there’s a consistent level with peaks. A calendar on the wall in the kitchen tracks the numbers – 54, 73, 60, 53, 85, 51, 75, 48, 68, 100.
First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos says: “We realize the importance of families and neighbors and we will continue to help. We’re doing the best we can to protect residents who can’t help themselves.”
A small part of that help centers on diversion. DaRos says the town will not cancel its annual fireworks display and plans to increase events on the Town Green, such as concerts, as a way of providing residents with some low-cost entertainment this spring and summer.
Two bright spots can be seen in this crisis, says Nancy Pappas, director of external communications for the Community Renewal Team, (CRT). The team distributes federal funds for energy assistance programs through the state Department of Social Services.
First, Pappas says, the Department of Social Services extended the last day to call for oil delivery last week from March 16 to March 30 for pre-existing certified customers. Second, since funding was based on the high oil prices during 2008 and thanks to state and federal aid, there will be enough money to go around.
Pappas reports that from August 2008 through March 18, 2009, 332 households in Branford applied for publicly funded energy assistance. Of that number 111 households were new to CRT this year. Those households consist of 617 individuals, a low ratio, says Pappas. Out of that 617, 164 are over 60 – either head of household or living with a family member who is younger. Pappas says the economy with its resultant job losses rather than the cost of petroleum is the “weapon of destruction” in what she calls “the heat or eat dilemma.”
The overall CRT region, which includes the entire mid-section of the state, including the shoreline, normally serves 26,000 households. As of March 18, Pappas reports that applications had been received from 28,651 households; of that number 8,152 were brand new, which is a 28.49 percent increase in new applications over total applications. CRT does not include New Haven, which is serviced by the Community Action Agency.
CRT will be allowed to take new applications through May 1. In addition, a Utility Day will take place in New Haven on Saturday, April 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for those facing utility shutoffs or need payment assistance. (Call 800 – 453-3320 for details.)
Ridgway has in-depth knowledge of the fuel needs for residents since her assistant director, Marlowe Ioime, administers the state’s Heating Assistance Program. Ridgway says that residents have received services valued at $250,000.
The greatest impact is on those “people who are recently unemployed,” says Ridgway, who has been at Canoe Brook for 31 years. “They come to the center saying, ‘I never thought I would be in this position.’”
Ridgway adds that they see a lot of people who are entering in foreclosure, which is not yet reflected in overall statistics.
She credits the fiscal management of the town for being able to give residents the support systems they need.
“We understand. We get it,” she says.
Ioime says she has been swamped this season, seeing approximately 15 people a day and dealing with voice mail that’s full of requests for assistance.
She has seen about 900 people so far this season and predicts that 1,200 to 1,300 households will seek assistance, including people in long-term careers who didn’t know such programs existed.
She has her hands full because a lot is involved in helping them – the process of gathering information about their financial situation, and, perhaps more importantly, listening to their stories.
Additional staffing is needed, but there’s a shortage of private office space at Canoe Brook Senior Center. The town is looking into solving that problem. Ridgway says she hopes that will happen in the next few months.
“We need the infrastructure to deal with the demand,” she says. And that demand is turning out to be year-round, she adds.
The Community Dining Room on Harrison Avenue, a block away from the Town Green, has many newcomers. It also has its regulars.
William Ferraro, 38, of Branford, stopped by to pick up meals for his family.
“Thank God for this place, “ he says. Ferraro, who is also a volunteer at the dining room, has worked in construction and is primary caregiver for his mother. He says he’s been unemployed “far too long.”
Kral, who has served as its executive director since 1991, says: “There’s a cross section of people, more families with kids, lots of new faces that are affected. Connecticut is slower to feel the impact and things will get worse,” she says.
She is coping with the increased traffic flow by redesigning the dining room to accommodate the additional traffic.
The Community Dining Room serves a sit-down meal Sunday through Friday, noon to 1 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturdays, noon to 1 p.m., plus breakfast on Saturdays from 9 to 10 a.m. and a family dinner on Tuesdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Kral is also looking to add a Wednesday night take-out where people can call ahead, then pick up dinner for their family. She thinks this service can help the “recently affected,” those who would feel uncomfortable sitting down at the Community Dining Room, but who need that extra support.
“The meals are well-balanced and healthy,” she says. “People often eat the lunch as their main meal, then have cereal for dinner.”
In addition, approximately 50 meals are home-delivered, thanks to the efforts of Betsy Klarman, home delivery coordinator. Klarman has seen deliveries increase from four in 1997, up to today’s 50. That number reflects a growing elderly population in town and the fact that people are “aging in place,” a term used by Klarman.
Times are tough, but Branford has a lot of people who are dedicated to taking care of the town, which in turn is taking care of its residents.
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