What Is Project Warmth?

Project Warmth is a program designed for people who are unable to pay their energy bills, and provides one-time grants to provide payments to oil and utility companies on behalf of eligible residents facing heating emergencies.

Project Warmth began operation in 1994 to help Long Island residents who needed help with utility bills but did not qualify for federal assistance programs. Since its debut, Project Warmth has raised more than $10.5 million and has provided assistance to over 30,000 families.
 
 

Basic Eligibility

    • Applicant must reside in Nassau County, Suffolk County, or the Rockaways in Queens.
    • 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 or be financially unable to secure heating oil/propane/kerosene etc. when the tank is empty or nearly empty.
    • Applicant must demonstrate financial hardship and provide an acceptable explanation for arrears.
    • Applicants 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. Once a termination notice is received, the applicant must apply for Emergency heap.For more information on Emergency HEAP click on the following link.“https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/#emergency-benefit”>
    • Project Warmth is open for grants from December 1 until funds are exhausted.

An emergency heap approval provides gas/electric customers with a 30-day hold on terminations allowing time to apply for Project Warmth and make deferred payment arrangements.

Possible Reasons For Ineligibility

  • The bill is not in applicants name or the applicant doesn’t reside at billing address.
  • Declining to apply for HEAP assistance when qualified.
  • Nonactive account
  • Non fuel related electricity accounts.
  • Current bill with no past-due amount.
  • Applicants will not be eligible for Project Warmth if a HEAP grant satisfies the past due amount.
  • SSI recipients who receive a SSI guarantee at the DEPT. of social service to eliminate the emergency situation.
  • Topped oil tank during a prior Project Warmth grant period

Please note , Applications for Project Warmth are NOT sent out or received by mail. A referral is not a guarantee of acceptance. The project Warmth staff will determine eligibility based on documents provided by the applicant and more detailed requirements than those listed above.