Salvation Army expects fewer applicants for P.E.I. home heating program this year

Administrators of Prince Edward Island's home heating program say they expect fewer applications this year.

Martin Dutton, executive director of homelessness services at the Salvation Army in Charlottetown, said the number of people who apply for help with the cost of heating their homes has increased in recent years — but that some who benefitted from the program in the past might not get approved this year.

The program, which is funded by the provincial government and administered by the Salvation Army, requires all applicants to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

"For this program, it means we will not have as many applicants as we have done in previous years," Dutton said. "We have had applicants in the past who may be student, may be recent immigrants, so they would not have qualified as citizens or permanent residents."

Officials with the Salvation Army said agreements with the province in years past required applicants to be residents of P.E.I., but that the agreement signed in 2025 specifies applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Dutton estimates that about 20 per cent of applicants will not be able to apply for financial support under those requirements.

Provincial officials said the citizenship requirement was always the intent of the program.

"The department's expectation of resident eligibility has not changed," a spokesperson for the province said in an emailed statement.

"In a review of the program this year, this eligibility was reiterated to the Salvation Army and made clearer in their application going forward."

Monday was the first day people could apply in-person for the program, which offers up to $1,200 for heating fuel to families with an income of $60,000 per year or less and individuals with incomes of $45,000 per year or less.

Rising demand 

Demand for the home heating program has been up in recent years, Dutton said, adding that this is the busiest time of year for applications — the Salvation Army had already received a couple hundred as of Monday.

The program started out with about $300,000 worth of funding, but has since grown into one with a budget of about $7.6 million today.

"That highlights the growth of need," Dutton said. "It also highlights the growth of support from the government to try and help people."

While it's hard to pinpoint one specific reason for the increase in demand for the program, Dutton said cost of living challenges offer some explanation.

"We can acknowledge that inflation has hit everybody. We can see that folks' income has not risen at the same level as inflation. We can see more…  individuals and families coming to the Island," he said.

'Emotional, psychological impact'

While the Salvation Army administers the program, it has no role in deciding eligibility requirements, Dutton said, noting that it can be difficult for staff to turn people away.

"We can support folks in other ways. It's just not the same — we do not have $7.6 million to disperse through the church."

The Salvation Army also operates its own food bank and breakfast programs.

Dutton said the support offered through the home heating program is more than just financial.

"It's not just about the heat. It's the emotional, psychological impact on the whole family unit," he said.

"Some folks will say it should be a lot more than $1,200. Others will say people should fend for themselves. It's not our role to judge that. Our place is to say, 'You walked though the door. Can we help you?' And that's what we try to do."