May 1, 2015—As spring warms into summer, many states are gearing up for their cooling assistance components this year. Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York just recently announced that New York would begin taking applications for their cooling season starting today, May 1. The program served 3,400 households last year, and this year the state has set aside $3 million to assist New York's vulnerable citizens.
The state of New York makes air conditioning units available to low-income residents who, within the past six months, have documented medical conditions that would be exacerbated by the warmer summer temperatures. In addition to this requirement, they must either live at or below the state's poverty guideline, receive SNAP benefits, TA assistance, or SSI. A household is not eligible if they have received only $21 in regular LIHEAP benefit payments, if they have an air conditioner unit that is less than five years old by the manufacturer's date, or if they have received an air conditioner unit from LIHEAP within the past 10 years.
The units will be installed and delivered by the state's 63 local weatherization agencies. The funding comes from the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the LIHEAP grantee.
Sources: Press Release, OTDA website
