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WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) announced that New York State is being awarded a total of $360,015,351 to help low-income families pay their home heating bills ahead of the winter season. Announced by Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) yesterday, this funding will deliver nearly $3.7 billion to help address energy costs for consumers and was delivered through appropriations from Congress as well as funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which Tonko pushed to advance.

“As the weather begins to turn and we approach the winter season, too many New York families will struggle to keep their home warm with mounting home energy costs,” Congressman Tonko said. “LIHEAP is critical to helping address those costs and protecting health and safety for individuals, which is why I’ve continuously pushed in Congress to provide robust, full funding for this program. I’m delighted to see that effort paying off with this announcement providing crucial funding to New Yorkers. I’ll continue working to provide relief so families in our Capital Region and beyond can afford their energy bills this winter and in the months to follow.”

Maintaining safe indoor air temperatures is critical, particularly for households that include older adults, individuals with disabilities, and young children. By helping to reduce the costs of home heating and cooling bills, reconnecting energy services that have been disconnected, preventing energy shutoffs, and providing minor energy-related home repairs, LIHEAP helps make sure that our neighbors can meet their home energy needs and stay safe in their homes. 

Individuals interested in applying for LIHEAP can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at: 1-866-674-6327.  

Not sure whether you qualify? Households can easily identify if they may be eligible for assistance by using the LIHEAP Eligibility Tool on energyhelp.us.

In addition to releasing the funding, ACF’s Office of Community Services (OCS) has updated their LIHEAP heating season toolkit to help grant recipients and stakeholders effectively reach households in need of assistance. To access the toolkit’s outreach materials including flyers, social media templates, and animated videos, visit the OCS Website.