SELINSGROVE -- Evicting people because their home does not have heat is cold and cruel, the least enjoyable part of John Bickhart's job.

"Government gets stuck with it," said the borough's code enforcement officer, who is also the borough manager. "It's a human tragedy that tugs the heartstrings."

Pangs of conscience are aggravated by the difficulty of finding help for people in the tangle of resources intended to help. Advocates and government officials say there are a number of programs available to offer heating assistance, but no clear-cut starting point where people can turn for help.

If he receives a complaint that a residence doesn't have heat, Bickhart said he is required by the borough to inspect the property. If there is no heat, and the problem can't be solved quickly, he has to declare the site unfit for habitation.

Residents are given a few days to move before he padlocks the doors.

Unfortunately, Bickhart said, that's where his involvement ends.

"There's no database or list of places that can help," he said. "If they're elderly, I can suggest Area Agency on Aging. Some churches in town and foundations may be able to help."

Bickhart, as well as code enforcement officials throughout the Valley, may have to evict more people as layoffs, high fuel prices and the poor economy take their toll.

Cathy Teischer, director of Haven Ministry in Sunbury, said the South Front Street shelter is full, as is the Gatehouse, a similar shelter in Danville.

The next closest shelter is in Harrisburg, she said.

"I do what I can and then move on," she said.

Teischer said she is often able to provide people with food, which allows them to use their money for heat.

Sunbury code enforcement officer Mike Rhoads said he knows of several city residents warming their homes with a secondary, more cost-effective heating sources to save money.

For example, he said, one couple has begun using a 24,000-btu fireplace for heat, rather than their 60,000-btu gas furnace.

At the beginning of the heating season this year, Rhoads said the code office had to condemn a handful of properties because the occupants didn't have heat in their homes and were using unconventional methods -- such as ovens -- to keep warm.

"It's unfortunate," he said, noting that most of the cases involved younger families.

According to city code, all occupied properties have to maintain a temperature of 65 degrees, and all have to have a primary source of heat.

Rhoads said UGI and PPL send the code office reports on a regular basis that indicate who's delinquent on heating bills.

He said the code office also relies on complaints from neighbors or landlords for heating violations, but also discovers some in the course of routine inspections.

Programs exist to help, and thousands of people have applied for assistance in Pennsylvania.

"LIHEAP is the main source," Tammy Young, of the Union-Snyder Community Action Agency, said of the statewide Low Income Heating Assistance Program, which is funded by the federal government.

In Pennsylvania, $280 million in additional federal LIHEAP funds, a 29 percent increase over 2007, will allow the state to assist 620,000 households pay heating bills. In addition, the income guidelines have been revised.

Weatherization programs have been swamped by requests and those who qualify for aid can expect to wait months before work can begin.

Pamela Bollinger, an outreach worker in Northumberland County's weatherization program, a state and federally funded effort, said the program helps people in older homes cope with rising heating costs.

"We provide attic and basement insulation, seal gaps, caulk and repair windows and weatherstrip doors," she said. "We check the efficiency of the furnace and refrigerator and can replace them if necessary."

Unfortunately, the program has only three men to handle the actual work. They completed 161 homes in 2008 and are working on applications approved last September.

"It takes time to do a good job," Bollinger said. "We're doing 30-50 each month."

In addition to LIHEAP, many of the utility companies in the region participate in the Dollar Energy Fund. This money comes from utility customers who contribute an extra dollar to their monthly bills, along with funds donated by the utility. Between October 2007 and September 2008, the fund gave $9,555 to 23 customers in Northumberland County and $10,330 to 37 customers in Union County. No requests for assistance were received from Snyder or Montour counties.

PPL Electric Utilities has its own program, which distributed $57,473 to 118 customers in the four-county region, according to Teri MacBride, PPL regional community relations director.

PPL funds a separate weatherization program, administered by local agencies, that provides low-income families with insulation, caulking and basic energy-savings.

Michael Molesevich, an environmental consultant from Lewisburg, said most homes would benefit from an energy audit, to show the resident where to make improvements.

"You'd think there'd be more demand," he said, "but those who need it the most can't afford it."

An energy audit, Molesevich said, can cost several hundred dollars.

"Look at your roof," he said. "If the snow has melted off, you're wasting heat."

The problem, Bickhart said, is that even though there are numerous programs available, some people just won't take advantage of them.

"Some homeowners and landlords are just not willing to apply," he said. "I've even offered to fill out the application for them. I don't know whether it's pride or fear or ignorance."

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