Higgins: $36 million+ in additional HEAP funding available to New Yorkers

New York total tops $918 million over the last year to help residents lower energy costs

It might be almost May, but it is still snowing in Buffalo. To help Western New Yorkers with the cost of heating bills, Congressman Brian Higgins announced $36 million in additional federal funding to New York state for the Home Energy Assistance Program. This latest award brings the total funding provided to New Yorkers for HEAP to over $918 million, the largest state allocation in the nation.

Higgins said, “Again this year, Buffalo took the title of the most snowfall in the nation, beating out cities like Anchorage, Alaska, and Boulder, Colorado. With that snow comes cold temperatures, requiring furnaces in Western New York to run frequently, and as a result residents face high monthly heating bills. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, ‘Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’ and budget appropriations, Americans will receive record relief to lower energy costs through the Home Energy Assistance Program.”

New York State previously received $535 million for HEAP through the American Rescue Plan, $6 million for HEAP through the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” and an additional $340 million for HEAP in congressional budgetary funding.

Erie County residents seeking assistance with energy costs can visit https://www3.erie.gov/heap/ or call 716-858-7644, while Niagara County residents can visit https://www.niagaracounty.com/socialservices/Programs/HEAP or call 716-278-8400. New York state also provides program and eligibility information online at https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/.