ALBANY — As the economy falters and high fuel prices linger, many hard-pressed New York residents are seeking government help to pay their heating bills.
High numbers of applicants have turned up at county social service agencies around the state since Nov. 3, the first day New Yorkers could apply for money from the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP.
First-week applications in Albany County numbered around 300, up more than 40 percent from last year. In Buffalo, Erie County officials say about 3,000 people came through the door last week, mirroring last year’s fast start. In Long Island’s Nassau County, officials said heating aid applications were up 30 percent.
“It looks like it’s going to be a very busy season,” said Mary Mitchell, director of temporary assistance for Nassau County.
The surge in demand was expected given recent economic shocks and fuel prices spikes. With fears of a hard winter ahead, the Bush administration released $5.1 billion in fuel assistance to states last month, nearly doubling federal money to help poor people cope with high heating bills.
New York’s share is $550.9 million.
In a complementary move, the Paterson administration raised income eligibility thresholds for the supplemental aid, which can run up to $2,500 this winter, and for emergency heating aid.
County social service officials said they will be able to meet the demand this winter given the boost in aid. Though some saw troubling signs among the applicants so far.
In northern New York, Clinton County HEAP coordinator Judy Carpenter said many of the applicants this past week were applying for government aid for the first time. James Panczykowski, director of energy programs for Erie County’s social service agency, said the many applicants this year are people with low-paying jobs who can’t make payments. He said about three-quarters of applicants have already had their heat or electricity turned off.
Panczykowski also noted that the surge of applicants came during an unseasonably warm week in Buffalo, with temperatures in the 60s. Demand for heating aid is closely tied to the weather: the lower the mercury, the higher the demand.
Panczykowski is bracing for more applicants.
“I would anticipate that as the weather gets colder, there will be a stronger demand,” he said.
First-week applications in Albany County numbered around 300, up more than 40 percent from last year. In Buffalo, Erie County officials say about 3,000 people came through the door last week, mirroring last year’s fast start. In Long Island’s Nassau County, officials said heating aid applications were up 30 percent.
“It looks like it’s going to be a very busy season,” said Mary Mitchell, director of temporary assistance for Nassau County.
The surge in demand was expected given recent economic shocks and fuel prices spikes. With fears of a hard winter ahead, the Bush administration released $5.1 billion in fuel assistance to states last month, nearly doubling federal money to help poor people cope with high heating bills.
New York’s share is $550.9 million.
In a complementary move, the Paterson administration raised income eligibility thresholds for the supplemental aid, which can run up to $2,500 this winter, and for emergency heating aid.
County social service officials said they will be able to meet the demand this winter given the boost in aid. Though some saw troubling signs among the applicants so far.
In northern New York, Clinton County HEAP coordinator Judy Carpenter said many of the applicants this past week were applying for government aid for the first time. James Panczykowski, director of energy programs for Erie County’s social service agency, said the many applicants this year are people with low-paying jobs who can’t make payments. He said about three-quarters of applicants have already had their heat or electricity turned off.
Panczykowski also noted that the surge of applicants came during an unseasonably warm week in Buffalo, with temperatures in the 60s. Demand for heating aid is closely tied to the weather: the lower the mercury, the higher the demand.
Panczykowski is bracing for more applicants.
“I would anticipate that as the weather gets colder, there will be a stronger demand,” he said.
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