2023 Fuel Assistance and Energy Savings Programs Client Survey

1. 1. What do you think are the top needs impacting people in your community? Check ALL that apply: *This question is required.

• Child care
• After school / summer programs for children and youth
• Jobs that are well-paying
• Jobs for young people
• English classes
• Training or education to get a job or better job
• Elder services
• Affordable housing
• Ability to pay heating or utility bills (heat, electricity, and water)
• Access to healthy food
• Health insurance
• Mental health services
• Drug and alcohol services
• Domestic violence services
• Safer neighborhood
• Transportation
• Ability to budget
• Legal assistance
• Need for clothing
• Financial emergencies
• Immigration issues
• Discrimination issues
• Access to technology / internet

2. 2. Compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic, are you and your family now better off, worse off, or about the same? *This question is required.

• Better off
• Worse off
• About the same
• OPTIONAL: In what way? Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

3. 3. Are you able to pay your bills on time each month? *This question is required.

• Yes
• No
• Unsure

4. 4. Do you currently have at least $500 set aside for emergencies? *This question is required.

• Yes
• No
• Unsure

5. 5. What keeps you or your family from feeling more financially stable? Check ALL that apply: *This question is required.

• I work full-time but my pay doesn’t cover my expenses
• I can only find part-time work
• I can’t find a job
• I need more education or training to get work or better work
• Child care is too expensive and/or interferes with my ability to work
• Child care slots are not available
• Child care is not offered during the hours I work
• My living expenses (rent/mortgage, heat, food) are too high
• I don't have enough money to buy food
• Discrimination
• I am a single parent
• I can’t find housing that I can afford
• I’ve had a lot of medical expenses that weren’t covered by my insurance
• I don’t have reliable transportation
• I am on a fixed income (Social Security, pension, etc.), and my income is limited
• I lost eligibility for benefits (i.e., SNAP, MassHealth, DTA)
• Someone in my household is spending money on things we don’t need, so there isn’t enough left for other expenses
• Someone else controls the money and makes decisions I don’t agree with
• I or a family member am struggling with addiction
• I or a family member am struggling with mental health issues
• I don’t feel safe in my home
• I don’t feel safe in my community
• Not applicable
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

6. 6. Which WCAC programs do you access? Check ALL that apply: *This question is required.

• Head Start/Early Head Start
• Job and Education Center
• Resiliency Center (free income tax preparation, financial coaching, benefits cliff coaching, micro loans)
• Healthy Families of Southern Worcester County
• Heating Assistance and Energy Services

7. 7. Please choose how helpful the following services are that the Home Heating Assistance and Energy Savings Programs provides. (Choose only 1 answer for each line.) *This question is required.

Space Cell	Very Helpful	Helpful	Somewhat Helpful	Not Helpful	Don't Use the Service
Heating and utility bill payments	Heating and utility bill payments: Very Helpful	Heating and utility bill payments: Helpful	Heating and utility bill payments: Somewhat Helpful	Heating and utility bill payments: Not Helpful	Heating and utility bill payments: Don't Use the Service
Repair/replacement of inefficient heating systems	Repair/replacement of inefficient heating systems: Very Helpful	Repair/replacement of inefficient heating systems: Helpful	Repair/replacement of inefficient heating systems: Somewhat Helpful	Repair/replacement of inefficient heating systems: Not Helpful	Repair/replacement of inefficient heating systems: Don't Use the Service
Weatherization & Energy Efficient Upgrades (insulating my home, etc.)	Weatherization & Energy Efficient Upgrades (insulating my home, etc.): Very Helpful	Weatherization & Energy Efficient Upgrades (insulating my home, etc.): Helpful	Weatherization & Energy Efficient Upgrades (insulating my home, etc.): Somewhat Helpful	Weatherization & Energy Efficient Upgrades (insulating my home, etc.): Not Helpful	Weatherization & Energy Efficient Upgrades (insulating my home, etc.): Don't Use the Service
Appliance upgrades of refrigerator/freezer, washers, A/C, and dehumidifiers	Appliance upgrades of refrigerator/freezer, washers, A/C, and dehumidifiers: Very Helpful	Appliance upgrades of refrigerator/freezer, washers, A/C, and dehumidifiers: Helpful	Appliance upgrades of refrigerator/freezer, washers, A/C, and dehumidifiers: Somewhat Helpful	Appliance upgrades of refrigerator/freezer, washers, A/C, and dehumidifiers: Not Helpful	Appliance upgrades of refrigerator/freezer, washers, A/C, and dehumidifiers: Don't Use the Service
Energy Efficiency Education	Energy Efficiency Education: Very Helpful	Energy Efficiency Education: Helpful	Energy Efficiency Education: Somewhat Helpful	Energy Efficiency Education: Not Helpful	Energy Efficiency Education: Don't Use the Service

9. 9. Would you like additional help understanding your utility bills? *This question is required.

• Yes
• No

10. 10. How interested are you in assistance with an electric vehicle purchase? *This question is required.

• Very interested
• Interested
• Not sure
• Not interested

11. 11. Which reasons make it difficult for you to receive services at WCAC? Check ALL that apply: *This question is required.

• I don’t have any difficulties receiving WCAC services
• I don't receive WCAC services
• I am not eligible for services
• I don't know who to contact for services
• The hours that WCAC is open are not convenient
• Transportation to get there
• I live too far away
• Finding parking or paying for parking
• Staff don't speak my language
• I care for a child or family member and can’t get away
• Cost of child care or senior care
• Staff are not welcoming
• I am afraid that what I will say will not be confidential
• Receiving help embarrasses me
• Paperwork
• Classes are full
• I feel unsafe when at WCAC
• I feel unsafe getting to WCAC
• My health
• My disability or physical challenge
• I fear being reported to immigration services
• I fear being reported to DCF
• Receiving assistance will make my ineligible for SNAP, fuel assistance or other support
• Access to technology
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

12. 12. Including yourself, what is the current employment status of the adult member(s) in your household? Check ALL that apply: *This question is required.

• Employed full-time
• Employed part-time
• Working but am underemployed
• Not working
• Not applicable
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

13. 13. If you are not working, what barriers are preventing you from working? Check ALL that apply: *This question is required.

• Fear of COVID-19
• If I earn more money, I will lose public benefits (for example, qualifying for SNAP, the Department of Transitional Assistance, etc.)
• No reliable transportation
• No work appropriate clothing
• Wages are too low
• Job training
• Childcare
• Need help finding a job
• No access to a computer to apply for a job
• Not applicable
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

14. 14. Which best describes your family? (Please choose only 1) *This question is required.

• Two-parent
• Grandparent/Relative Raising a Child
• Single parent
• Foster parent
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

15. 15. In which language do you speak most often? *This question is required.

• English
• Spanish
• Arabic
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

17. 17. What is your age? *This question is required.

• Under 18
• 18-24
• 25-44
• 45-64
• 65 and older

18. 18. What is your gender, as you define yourself? *This question is required.

• Male
• Female
• Non-binary
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

19. 19. Are you Hispanic/Latino? *This question is required.

• Yes
• No

20. 20. What is your race? (Please choose only 1) *This question is required.

• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Asian
• Black or African American
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander
• White
• Multi-Race
• Other: Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

21. 21. What is your household’s monthly income before taxes?
       Include:
       Wages, TANF, Social Security, Disability Benefits, etc.
       Do not Include:
       Food Stamps (SNAP), WIC, MassHealth, Other Public Health Insurance, Fuel Assistance, etc. *This question is required.

• Under $2,000/month (or Under $24,000/year)
• $2,000 - $4,000/month (or $24,000 - $48,000/year)
• $4,001 - $6,000/month (or $48,001 - $72,000/year)
• Over $6,000/month (or Over $72,000/year)