Activist: Lynchburg Social Services unfairly discriminates in heating assistance

A Lynchburg civil rights activist is calling for the city’s social services director to be fired over what he describes as discriminatory practices in the administration of the winter heating assistance program.

The city said citizens who apply for heating assistance are evaluated based strictly on whether they meet certain income criteria set by the state. Neither race nor any other factor is taken into consideration, officials said.

L. Garnell Stamps, a field director for the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, said during a news conference Monday he felt the local program was biased against black applicants and the elderly or disabled. He specifically cited the rejection of a 101-year-old black woman from the Diamond Hill neighborhood.

“That is indefensible,” Stamps said. “It is inexcusable to tell a 101-year-old woman who lives on a fixed income that she does not qualify.”

Stamps said he did not know why the woman’s application was denied and had not spoken with anyone from the city about her case, but added he saw no justification for the decision.

“There are individuals who like to make excuses,” he said. “But somebody has to speak up for these people.”

Stamps said he plans to file multiple discrimination complaints and initiate a class-action suit against the Lynchburg Department of Social Services. He also called for department director Mark Johnson to be fired.

City officials in turn expressed surprise and disappointment over these allegations and said they regretted that Stamps had not raised his concerns directly with them.

Johnson said he could not comment on specific applications, but said household income is the only measure used to determine who does or does not qualify for this program.

“The whole driving force that determines eligibility is income,” he said, adding there is no discretion for officials to make exceptions based on personal feelings or sympathies. “… We can’t do that. We’re not allowed to nor should we be.”

The program, formally named the fuel assistance program, is designed to help low-income households pay their heating costs. It is federally funded but locally administered under parameters set by the state.

The income requirements start at $14,088 a year or less for a household of one. For a household of four, the standard is $28,668 a year or less.

Johnson said he was proud of the work his staff does and hoped these allegations would not denigrate the department as a whole. Stamps also made it clear he was not speaking of the entire staff but rather of Johnson specifically.

City Manager Kimball Payne said he reviewed this situation Monday and found nothing improper. Rejected applicants can file an appeal with the state if they disagree with the local department’s decision.

During his statement, Stamps also took issue with a specific form that stated it could not be filled out by relatives of applicants. He said that unfairly discriminates against those with physical or educational limitations.

Johnson said the form was not part of the assistance application itself. Rather, it was a verification form distributed to applicants claiming zero income. The form asks a third party to affirm the applicant’s claim. The department will not accept verifications from housemates or relatives because they may have a vested interest in the outcome of the application, Johnson said.