By Matthew E. Milliken

mmilliken@heraldsun.com; 419-6684

DURHAM -- It's December. Temperatures -- somewhat skittishly -- are dipping. So are coffers for emergency assistance for Durhamites in need.

An anticipated shortfall is limiting the Durham County Department of Social Services' ability to help residents who need emergency assistance. Such crisis funds are used by those who fall below certain income guidelines to pay for rent, utilities, emergency medical treatment, transportation to medical appointments and burials.

The agency, which spent $2.3 million on rent and utility assistance last year, only has $1.7 million budgeted for those services in the 2009-10 fiscal year. Spending trends indicate that $1.9 million will be needed.

There's a way locals can help make up the gap -- by giving to the emergency energy fund. The program helps pay the bills of Duke Energy customers who are in arrears and in danger of having their power cut. It's the only county government crisis assistance initiative set up to accommodate direct donations.

"This is a vital program that supplements some of the federal funding that we get," said Sharon Hirsch, an assistant director of social services. That's why it's so important that we get help from the community with this program. We have about 20 percent more people coming to the agency to ask for help with utility assistance than we did last year at this time, and we have half as much money as we had last year."

Hirsch's last statement was a reference to cuts in federal crisis assistance.

Since July, the Department of Social Services has provided emergency aid to 2,381 families, down from 2,725 in the same time period in 2008. The drop is due to funding restrictions, Hirsch said.

The department used to pay entire utility bills but now will only pay up to $200 per person in past-due charges in order to prevent service termination. Eligibility is limited to individuals or families earning less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that comes to $2,757 gross monthly income or $33,084 gross annual income.

Company spokeswoman Paige Sheehan said that Duke Energy has given about $32 million since the program's inception 24 years ago. The Duke Energy Foundation will match up to $500,000 in customer contributions during the heating season.

Durhamites without children can check their eligibility for utility assistance by calling 560-8600. Those with children should call 560-8301.

People who go to Social Services offices will be told to use the telephone screening service unless they have 24-hour cutoff notices.

Demand for crisis help is so high right now that appointment slots are essentially full for the first two weeks of December, Hirsch said.

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TO DONATE

Donations to the emergency energy fund can be made by sending checks to Durham County DSS, P.O. Box 810, Durham, NC 27707-0810; checks should list emergency energy fund or EEF in the memo field. Donations may also be mailed to Share the Warmth Fund, Duke Energy Foundation, P.O. Box 35469, Charlotte, NC 28254-3429.