Niagara Falls, N.Y. (WBEN) - With heating and energy bills expected to rise across New York State this winter, some federal relief is on its way to help people afford the costs of heating their homes.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was in Niagara Falls on Thursday to announce roughly $60 million in federal support for New Yorkers to defray their home energy costs this winter. This funding is part of the $1 billion in emergency supplemental Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding she fought to secure that helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist families with energy costs.
"As the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, it's important that we do what it takes to make sure every New Yorker is able to have a safe, comfortable and affordable home. A big part of that is making sure everyone has access to affordable utilities like heat," said Senator Gillibrand on Thursday.
It is expected in New York to see already high annual energy costs to skyrocket during a forecasted colder winter season. Some experts say utilities costs could spike by as much as 50% in Western New York alone, which Gillibrand knows some people will not be able to afford that spike. However, she also knows that going without utilities is not an option.
"We know that the winters are cold here in Niagara Falls, and families have to turn their heating on to survive, and families with kids at home have to keep the heating on all day. That means people have no choice but to face rising bills at a time when they have less money coming in. Without help, families who are struggling may be forced to choose between putting food on the table and heating their homes. That's simply unacceptable."
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In New York State in 2021, more than 1 million households received assistance courtesy of LIHEAP. Niagara County households received over $10 million through the LIHEAP program last year.
However, given the after effects of COVID-19 and other factors, it became increasingly clear for Gillebrand that more funds were needed and required to meet the needs of low income New Yorkers in 2022.
That's a reason why she and other members of Congress and the Senate urged the Senate and the House Appropriations Committee to provide additional energy supplemental funding for LIHEAP. This initiative would allow more people to receive aid, and would help make sure that New Yorkers don't have to get through the winter without a safe source of heat and hot water.
"This is an enormous victory for families struggling to pay their energy bills, and it's potentially life-saving, so that we can keep our New Yorkers and their neighbors safe," Gillebrand said.
"This was a program that was, I believe, about to sunset, it had begun to run out of funding. So I'm happy that both the Senate and the House agreed to re-appropriate for it," added Niagara Falls Mayor Rob Restaino. "What we're finding is that the challenge, with regard to utility costs, is starting to sort of tip into the low-middle and middle income bracket, because of the high cost of things all across the board. So qualifications for the program will be important, but obviously getting this funding to funnel into our community, very much needed and very much appreciated."
Starting Nov. 1, households in Niagara Falls can apply for HEAP benefits online at myBenefits.ny.gov, at the HEAP Local District Contact at the Niagara County Department of Social Services, or by mailing a completed application to the Niagara County Department of Social Services. Starting Jan. 3, 2023, households can apply for additional funding through the emergency HEAP benefit in person, or in writing through the Niagara County Department of Social Services.
More from Thursday's announcement is available in the player below: