After a delayed start caused by a federal government shutdown, New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is now up and running for the winter season, offering much-needed relief for residents struggling with heating costs.

John Liddle, Commissioner of Health and Human Services for Sullivan County, told Radio Catskill the program officially reopened on December 1 and is now operating normally.

“The funding had to move from the federal government to the state, and then to local fuel vendors,” Liddle explained. “That caused delays, but everything is now functioning as it normally would.”

How to Apply for HEAP

Residents can apply for HEAP or check on the status of an application in several ways:

• By phone at 845-807-0142
• By email at [email protected]

• Online at mybenefits.ny.gov
• In person at county social services offices

Liddle encouraged residents who believe their benefits should have renewed automatically but have not seen changes yet to contact the county directly.

“There have been some changes in regulations connecting HEAP and SNAP benefits, and that may be creating issues for some people,” he said. “If something doesn’t look right, we want folks to reach out so we can fix it.”

Only One Emergency HEAP Benefit This Year

Unlike recent winters, which included extra funding tied to pandemic relief programs, this season will offer just one emergency HEAP benefit, expected to become available January 1.

“In prior years, there were usually at least two emergency benefits,” Liddle said. “That was due to additional federal funding during and after the pandemic. That extra funding has now dried up.”

He also confirmed that furnace repair, clean-and-tune, and replacement benefits are currently cut off for this season. However, county officials are advocating for the state to restore some of those programs before winter ends.

“We’re hearing some hopeful signs behind the scenes, but there’s nothing official to announce yet,” Liddle said.

Warming Centers Open Across the County

With sub-zero temperatures already hitting the region, Sullivan County has activated overnight warming centers, operating seven nights a week from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. These centers are not shelters but provide a safe place to stay out of the cold.

Warming center locations include:

• Liberty United Methodist Church, Main Street, Liberty
• St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. John Street, Monticello (near Broadway and the Monticello Diner)

Liddle said usage is already higher than in past years due to the early cold snap. In emergency situations after hours, residents experiencing homelessness can contact local police to be connected with warming centers or hotel placements.

Looking Ahead

In addition to winter heating concerns, Liddle also highlighted ongoing pressure on childcare affordability and urged residents to raise the issue with state lawmakers as budget negotiations approach.

For now, county officials stress that anyone who needs help with heating costs should apply as soon as possible and not assume their benefit has renewed automatically.