Senator Schumer: "Summer Heat Can be Dangerous for Many New Yorkers"
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced
assistance for low-income New Yorkers whose health issues pose a medical
emergency during the extended period of hot weather forecasted for the state in
the coming days.
"The late spring and early summer have already brought several heat waves, which can be life-and-death matters for New Yorkers with serious medical conditions," Governor Cuomo said.
"Senior citizens and children are
especially susceptible to heat-related illness, and this initiative will
provide low-income homes with much-needed air conditioners so that New Yorkers
have the assistance they need to stay cool and healthy."
In order to protect vulnerable New Yorkers, New York State has set aside $3 million in funding through the federally-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
"Summer heat can be dangerous for many New Yorkers," said U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer.
"I strongly urge eligible families and
seniors to take advantage of this program to help keep their homes safe and comfortable.
As this heat wave moves across New York, it’s absolutely essential that seniors
aren’t put at risk because they can't afford to keep their homes cool."
"Working with our non-profit partners across the state, we are happy to provide some relief to those needy New Yorkers with medical conditions," stated Darryl C. Towns, Commissioner/CEO of New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), which administers LIHEAP.
"But if you find yourself without air
conditioning and in a true heat emergency this summer, please do not wait: head
to your nearest local cooling center."
Eligibility for the program is determined by:
LIHEAP
low-income guidelines. (For a four-person household, the maximum gross annual
income to qualify is approximately $49,500.)
Having at least one household member who has been diagnosed with a chronic or acute medical condition which is aggravated by exposure to extreme heat situations.
A doctor providing written documentation (dated within the last six months) that air-conditioning assistance is critical to prevent a heat emergency.
Households that have a working air conditioner or have received one from the State in the last 10 years are not eligible.
The cooling program is administered by HCR with funding provided from the federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) funds, through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).
HCR's network of 63 local Weatherization
agencies will provide delivery and installation of cooling program services, and
funds have been allocated to ensure coverage in each of the state’s 62
counties.
These agencies will accept applications, determine eligibility, and oversee the installation of the air-conditioning units.
Under the terms of the grant, one air
conditioner will be awarded to an eligible household or dwelling unit, with
installation and labor included. Grants do not include an additional HEAP cash
benefit to cover the cost of operating the air conditioning unit.
The full list of local cooling program administrators is below:
NYS Homes and Community Renewal
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Emergency Cooling Program County Coverage
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Subgrantee
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Counties Served
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Phone Number
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Albany Community Action
Partnership, Inc.
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Albany
|
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Albany County Cooperative
Extension
|
Albany
|
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Cattaraugus Community
Action, Inc.
|
Allegany
|
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Association for Energy
Affordability, Inc.
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Bronx
|
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Bronx Shepherds
Restoration Corporation
|
Bronx
|
|
Northwest Bronx
Community and Clergy Coalition, Inc.
|
Bronx
|
|
Tioga Opportunities
Program Inc.
|
Broome
|
|
Cattaraugus Community
Action, Inc.
|
Cattaraugus
|
|
Cayuga-Seneca Community
Action Inc.
|
Cayuga
|
|
Chautauqua
Opportunities Inc.
|
Chautauqua
|
|
Economic Opportunity
Program of Chemung and Schuyler Counties, Inc.
|
Chemung
|
|
Opportunities for
Chenango, Inc.
|
Chenango
|
|
Joint Cncl. for Econ.
Oppor. of Clinton & Franklin Co.
|
Clinton
|
|
Columbia Opportunities
Inc.
|
Columbia
|
|
Cortland County
Community Action Program
|
Cortland
|
|
Delaware Opportunities
Inc.
|
Delaware
|
|
Dutchess County
Community Action Agency, Inc.
|
Dutchess
|
|
Neighborhood Housing
Services of South Buffalo, Inc.
|
Erie, City of Buffalo
|
|
Lt. Col. Matt Urban
Human Svces. Ctr. of Western NY
|
Erie, City/Outside of
City
|
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Supportive Services
Corporation
|
Erie, Outside of City
|
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Adirondack Community
Action Programs,Inc.
|
Essex
|
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Comlinks, Inc.
|
Franklin
|
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Fulmont Community
Action Program
|
Fulton
|
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Orleans Community
Action Committee, Inc.
|
Genesee
|
|
Community Action of
Greene County Inc.
|
Greene
|
|
Warren/Hamilton
Counties ACEO Inc.
|
Hamilton
|
|
Mohawk Valley Community
Action Agency, Inc.
|
Herkimer
|
|
Community Action
Planning Cncl. of Jefferson Co., Inc.
|
Jefferson
|
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Bedford Stuyvesant
Restoration Corporation, Inc.
|
Kings
|
|
Crown Heights Jewish
Community Council
|
Kings
|
|
Opportunity Development
Associaton
|
Kings
|
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Sunset Park
Redevelopment Committee, Inc.
|
Kings
|
|
Community Environmental
Center, Inc.
|
Kings
|
|
Lewis County
Opportunities, Inc.
|
Lewis
|
|
Livingston County
Planning Department
|
Livingston
|
|
Stoneleigh Housing Inc.
|
Madison
|
|
Action for a Better
Community, Inc.
|
Monroe, City of
Rochester
|
|
Pathstone Corporation
|
Monroe
|
|
Fulmont Community
Action Program
|
Montgomery
|
|
Community Development
Corp. of Long Island, Inc.
|
Nassau
|
|
Harlem Community
Development Corporation
|
New York
|
|
Housing Conservation
Coordinators
|
New York
|
|
Northern Manhattan
Improvement Corporation
|
New York
|
|
Niagara Community
Action Program, Inc.
|
Niagara
|
|
Mohawk Valley Community
Action Agency, Inc.
|
Oneida
|
|
People's Equal Action
and Community Effort, Inc.
|
Onondaga
|
|
Wayne County Action
Program Inc.
|
Ontario
|
|
Regional Economic
Community Action Program, Inc.
|
Orange
|
|
Orleans Community
Action Committee, Inc.
|
Orleans
|
|
People's Equal Action
and Community Effort, Inc.
|
Oswego
|
|
Opportunities for
Otsego Inc.
|
Otsego
|
|
Westchester Community
Opportunity Program Inc.
|
Putnam
|
|
Community Environmental
Center, Inc.
|
Queens
|
|
Hellenic American
Neighborhood Action Council, Inc. (HANAC)
|
Queens
|
|
Margert Community
Corporation
|
Queens
|
|
CEO for the Greater
Capital Region, Inc.
|
Rensselaer
|
|
Northfield Community
LDC of Staten Island
|
Richmond
|
|
Rockland Community
Development Council
|
Rockland
|
|
St. Lawrence County
Community Development Program, Inc.
|
St. Lawrence
|
|
Saratoga County
Economic Opportunity Council, Inc.
|
Saratoga
|
|
Saratoga County
Economic Opportunity Council, Inc.
|
Schenectady
|
|
Schoharie County
Community Action Program
|
Schoharie
|
|
Economic Opportunity
Program of Chemung and Schuyler Counties, Inc.
|
Schuyler
|
|
Seneca County Office
for the Aging
|
Seneca
|
|
Pro Action of Steuben
and Yates Inc.
|
Steuben
|
|
Community Development
Corp. of Long Island, Inc.
|
Suffolk
|
|
CACHE, Inc.
|
Sullivan
|
|
Tioga Opportunities
Program, Inc.
|
Tioga
|
|
Tompkins Community
Action
|
Tompkins
|
|
Ulster Community Action
Committee Inc.
|
Ulster
|
|
Warren/Hamilton
Counties ACEO Inc.
|
Warren
|
|
Washington County
Economic Opportunity Council, Inc.
|
Washington
|
|
Wayne County Action
Program Inc.
|
Wayne
|
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Westchester Community
Opportunity Program Inc.
|
Westchester
|
|
Wyoming County
Community Action Inc.
|
Wyoming
|
|
Pro Action of Steuben
and Yates Inc.
|
Yates
|
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Questions regarding the HEAP program should be directed to local providers listed above or the NYS HEAP Hotline at 1-800-342-3009.
Those who want to see if they qualify under HEAP’s income guidelines should visit www.mybenefits.ny.gov.
Image courtesy of http://dollsetc.blogspot.com.
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