Energy Assistance & Community Development

HeartShare equips low-income families with essential resources to stay warm and healthy.

Helping Low-Income New Yorkers Stay Warm and Healthy

HeartShare bridges the gap between government, community and families. We educate and advocate for the community and equip low income families with resources to stay warm and safe. With utility and community partners, HeartShare also administers grant programs to help people struggling to maintain the balance between utility bills and other essential needs.

HeartShare’s efforts include an annual trip to the Capitol, where the team advocates for federal funding, such as for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Reflective of HeartShare’s dexterity in responding to the needs of the community, HeartShare’s Community Development Program also has been deployed under dire circumstances. We helped families get back on their feet following Superstorm Sandy. Together, these services ensure that our most vulnerable New Yorkers are safe and healthy.

HeartShare received the 2016 Victorine Q. Adams Excellence Award for its role in creating the largest network among utility companies, elected officials and community organizations nationally. The award is from the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC), an awareness-raising coalition for low-income energy consumers. HeartShare sits on NEUAC’s Board.

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If you would like to become a participating intake office for any of our programs please contact Tanya Jones, Director of Energy Assistance & Community Development at tanya.jones@heartshare.org

EnergyShare

Program open

12 MetroTech Center, 29th Floor
Brooklyn, NY
(877) 480-7427

Applications: Available January 21

Eligibility: Applicants must be HEAP income eligible and provide proof of one good faith payment in the last twelve months along with proof of ID and income for all household members. Applicants must have a disconnection notice on their Con Edison accounts. This grant is available to residents of the five boroughs of New York City and Westchester County and only can be received once every four calendar  years.

Grant Amount: Grants up to $200 are available.

EnergyShare Participating Offices 2020

Care & Share

Program will open in February 2020.

12 MetroTech Center, 29th Floor
Brooklyn, NY
(855) 852-2736

Applications: Available February 4, 2020

Eligibility: Applicants must exhaust all sources of HEAP before applying and have an active account with National Grid. This grant is fuel-blind, available to residents of New York’s upstate counties and can be received once per heating season.

Grant Amount: $200.

Care & Share Participating Offices 2020

Neighborhood Heating Fund

Program will open in February 2020.

12 MetroTech Center, 29th Floor
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 422-4207

Applications: Available February 4, 2020

Eligibility: Applicants must exhaust all forms of HEAP before they are able to apply. Applicants must have an active National Grid heating account. This grant is only available to residents of Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island who live in a 1-2 family house or pay for heat in their apartment. This grant can be received once per heating season.

Grant Amount: $200.

Neighborhood Heating Fund Participating Offices 2020

Utility and Community Assistance Days

Open from March 2020–December 2020

HeartShare brings together its utility and community team from National Grid, Con Edison, DEP (Water), Public Service Commission, all divisions of HRA and DSS to provide workshops or a day of individual service appointments for clients who need help with their utility bills and or HRA/ DSS services. Appointments can be scheduled by legislative offices or community based organizations only.

For more information or to schedule an assistance day, email Tanya Jones, Director of Energy Assistance and Community Development:  tanya.jones@heartshare.org

 

Project SHARE Heating Fund

Program will open in February 2020.

12 MetroTech Center, 29th Floor
Brooklyn, NY

(844) 579-5555

Applications: Available February 10, 2020

Eligibility: Applicants must exhaust all sources of HEAP before applying, have an active account with NYSEG or RG&E and must have an energy emergency. Active military and well-discharged veterans, regardless of income, are welcome to apply. This grant is fuel blind and can be received once every 12 months.

Grant Amount: Grants up to $350 are available.

ProjectShare Participating Offices 2020

Solar for All

12 MetroTech Center, 29th Floor
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 422-4207

Applications: Now available

Eligibility: Applicants must be HEAP income eligible and provide a copy of their electricity bill for the application. This is available to residents who reside in the Solar For All program coverage area.  Applicants must receive electricity from New York State Gas and Electric (NYSEG), Central Hudson Gas & Electric, and Orange & Rockland Utilities (O&R).

Solar For All is also open to National Grid customers in Western NY and the Capital region. If you are a National Grid customer please call us to see if you reside in the coverage territory.

Credit Amount: $5-$15 a month of your electric bill every year for up to 10 years.

Convert to Natural Gas

Awaiting new program season launch.

12 MetroTech Center, 29th Floor
Brooklyn, NY
(718) 422-4211

This program gives low income families who use oil the option to convert from oil to gas for free.

Eligibility: If a client has been awarded HEAP, or has Medicaid, SNAP, Family Assistance, Public Assistance, SSI, Veterans Disability Pension, Veteran’s Surviving Spouse Pension or Child Health Plus they can apply.  They must also live in the downstate National Grid service territory which is Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.  National Grid will do all the work and provide the new gas heating equipment at no cost to the client.

Further details on eligibility here.

“It takes an interwoven, communicative and dedicated state-wide network of community organizations, elected officials and utility companies to keep low-income families warm, safe and healthy."