Malden family says local non-profit took off with federal dollars

MALDEN, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A Malden man says a local non-profit took off with federal dollars meant to provide assistance with heating bills for low-income families.

Barnave Harigan showed us the two letters showing the amount of money he qualified for to help pay his heating bill, and he's been waiting on that money for two years.

"I called them. I walked to the office and nobody ever gave me any information," he said.

Harigan applied for assistance through a Malden-based non-profit , Tri-Cap. He says his wife also submitted applications as far back as 2011. He claims despite his family's financial need, they never saw a dime.

And the shut off notices keep coming.

According to their website, Tri-Cap served $18,000 clients in Malden, Medford and Everett. A message on the site says despite Tri-Cap's financial troubles, they would continue to meet their clients needs.

However, on Thursday Tr-Cap was gone. Their office on Pleasant Street empty.

"I don't know where that money's going, so I'd like to find out what's going on," Harigan said.

Each year, Tri-Cap received thousands in federal grant money specifically for their heating assistance program. The federal money was administered through the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.

When Tri-Cap went under, another agency stepped up to make sure people in this area would get the help they need. DHCD says when they took over in December they began hearing from former Tri-Cap clients who were waiting on grant money they never received.

"This is not only just me having that issues, there's other people like me," Harigan said.

Late Thursday afternoon the state DCHD emailed the following statement: "We recognize that the closure of Tri-Cap has created hardships for needy families, and we are working diligently to make those families whole. We are currently working to determine the extent of DHCD's losses in Tri-Cap's closure, and will make every effort to recover any missing or misused funds.”

Calls to the attorney representing Tri-Cap were not returned.

Cox Media Group