Subsidy so close yet so far for couple

ALISTER THOMSON
A Hastings pensioner is crying foul after he was denied a subsidy for home insulation because he lives less than 300 metres from the right area.
Terry Sandilands, who lives on Karamu Rd, wrote to charitable agency EnergySmart which is administering the Hawke's Bay healthy homes project for 2009, asking why he could not get the subsidy, worth about $5000.
The scheme, which runs from Wairoa to Waipukurau, funds improvements to insulation and other energy-efficiency measures for low-income households whose residents have respiratory conditions.
Mr Sandilands was told he qualified for the subsidy because his wife, Betty, had a respiratory condition, their home was built before 2000 and theirs was a low-income household.
But his home is outside of "Deprivation Area 9" which is around the corner on Albert St.
The agency has made homes in that area a priority and was finding demand for the service was exceeding capacity.
Mr Sandilands said he was angered by the response which he called "very unfair".
Home insulation could save a significant amount of money otherwise spent on doctors and hospital fees.
His wife had respiratory illnesses and the house got very cold in winter.
"I'd like a bit of assistance because we, in the past, have had a hard life and we have been knocked about a bit and feel it is not too much to ask," Mr Sandilands said.
He was annoyed he could not qualify because he was less than 300 metres from Albert St.
Tukituki MP Craig Foss said he was aware of Mr Sandilands' complaint and it was a "shame" he did not qualify.
He planned to look into whether there were any other avenues for support for Mr Sandilands.
Mr Foss said New Zealand homes were generally poorly insulated and it was not a question of if more money should be allocated but when.
Calls to EnergySmart management by Hawke's Bay Today have not been returned.