Gillibrand Announces $60 Million In Home Energy Assistance

WHITE PLAINS, NY — A huge amount of federal funding for low-income home energy assistance was announced Tuesday by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

New York’s junior senator said, during a news conference in White Plains, she secured $1 billion for the emergency supplemental Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

This aid will deliver an estimated $60 million in support for New Yorkers to defray their some energy costs.

LIHEAP is a federal program to help Americans, including more than 1 million New York households, to heat their homes and will be critical this winter as residential energy costs are expected to rise dramatically.

Gillibrand said LIHEAP provides a lifeline for thousands of low-income families in Westchester County.

“As winter approaches and the cost of groceries and other essentials remains high, many simply cannot afford to pay exorbitant heating bills,” she said.

Gillibrand was joined at the news conference by Westchester County Executive George Latimer and New York Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Stewart-Cousins thanked Gillibrand for her efforts.

“As winter approaches, many residents are grappling with the skyrocketing cost of heating,” she said.

Staring Nov. 1, households in Westchester can apply for home energy assistance benefits online at myBenefits.ny.gov, at the HEAP Local District Contact at the Westchester County Department of Social Services, or by mailing a completed application to the Westchester County Department of Social Services. Starting Jan. 3, households can apply for additional funding through the emergency HEAP benefit in person or in writing through the Westchester County Department of Social Services. There is no online option.