Are you in need of Project Warmth assistance?
Project Warmth is open for grants from December 1, 2009
Assistance Eligibility Requirements
Project Warmth Participating Agencies

Information about Project Warmth
About Project Warmth
Project Warmth 2007-08 Report to the Community
Contact Information
Project Warmth Sponsors

Basic Eligibility Requirements (include, but are not limited to):

• Applicant must have residency in Nassau County, Suffolk County or the Rockaway area in Queens (LIPA service area).
• Applicant must show a heating and/or fuel-related electric bill in his or her name and address that is in termination, pending disconnect or severely overdue (for any fuel source) or be financially unable to secure heating oil/propane/kerosene etc. when the tank is empty or near empty.
• Applicant must demonstrate financial hardship and provide an acceptable explanation for arrears.
• Applicant may only receive fuel and/or fuel-related electric assistance once per program year.
• Applicants eligible for Emergency HEAP must apply to HEAP prior to applying to Project Warmth. Upon receiving a termination notice, the applicant must immediately apply for Emergency HEAP. An Emergency HEAP approval provides gas/electric customers with a 30-day hold on terminations, allowing for time to apply for Project Warmth and make deferred payment arrangements with the vendor.
• Project Warmth is open for grants from December1 until funds are depleted.

Inelidgible conditions include:

• Bill not in applicant’s name or applicant not in residence at billing address.
• Declining to apply for HEAP assistance when qualified.
• Nonactive account.
• Non fuel-related electricity accounts (heat included in rent).
• Current bill with no past due amount, or if a HEAP grant satisfies the past due amount.
• SSI recipients who may receive an “SSI guarantee” at the Dept. of Social Service to eliminate the emergency situation.
• Topped oil tank during a prior Project Warmth grant period.

Applications are not sent out or received by mail. PLEASE NOTE, a referral is not a guarantee of acceptance. The Project Warmth agency staff will determine eligibility based on the documentation provided by the applicant and more detailed application requirements than are listed above.

Fore more information, contact United Way of Long Island at 631.940.3757.

Participating Agencies
The following organizations will accept Project Warmth assistance applications from the general public from December 1until funds are exhausted. APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED

About Project Warmth
Few of us can imagine the oil tank on empty or the electricity shut off notice arriving in the mail. Home energy is a basic human need such as food, water, shelter and clothing. But today, for many working families, having to choose between feeding their loved ones or heating their homes has become a devastating reality.

• According to the NYS Deptartment of Labor, over 125,000 Long Island residents filed for unemployment benefits this year to provide basic necessities for their families.Of this number, 76% of the unemployed are supporting young children at home.  
• In 2006, Long Island Cares reported 259,387 Long Island residents turned to emergency food programs.
• 165,000 Long Island households live below the federal poverty line—52,000 are children.
• In 2009, there were 3,512 Suffolk home foreclosures and 2,762 Nassau foreclosures (a 63.6% increase from last year).
  
• Home heating oil prices are currently at $2.905 per gallon. For a family on unemployment that means finding $780 to fill their fuel tank in a budget already stretched to the limit.
• The average Long Island home uses 800 gallons of oil a year. At today’s prices that’s $2,324 per year.
• For working families, 25 percent of their total income is spent on heating costs.
• More than 42% of families seeking assistance indicated having to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities/heating fuel.

United Way works with nonprofit and corporate community partners to administer Project Warmth, Long Island’s only non-governmental emergency energy fund. Through our network of partner agencies, case managers help connect families to local resources to find permanent solutions to their financial difficulties.

• In 2008-2009, $605,000 in grants were distributed through Project Warmth, with an average grant of $425.
• 1,398 families—including 1,929 children—were helped to stay warm last winter.
• 83% of the people requesting assistance in 2007-2008 did not return for assistance last winter.

How You Can Help
Long Islanders can make contributions to Project Warmth online, through the yellow envelopes in their energy bills, by sending donations directly to Project Warmth at 819 Grand Boulevard, Deer Park, NY 11729 or by calling United Way of Long Island at 631.940.3757.

Project Warmth 2007-08 Report to the Community
Project Warmth was able to assist 1,866 families to stay warm last winter, helping them to focus on other pressing needs of their loved ones. Download the Project Warmth 2007-08 Report to the Communtiy.

Staff Contact
For more information, contact Lois Grant, project coordinator, at lgrant@unitedwayli.org or 631.940.3746.
Note: If you are a household seeking Project Warmth assistance, please contact a participating agency directly. The project coordinator does not process applications.

Project Warmth Top Sponsors

	Oil Heat Comfort Inc.

Additional Project Warmth Sponsors Include:
NYS Assembly 5th District Ginny Fields
NYS Assembly 1st District Marc Alessi
Flushing Savings Bank