$100,000 to Help Low-Income Families Keep Their Heat

Brooklyn, NY, February 13, 2011 --(PR.com)-- This has been one of the worst winters in recent memory, with a record amount of snow during the month of January in New York City. Naturally, people are using more heat to combat the cold, resulting in higher utility bills. For many low-income individuals and families, they cannot afford to pay a higher bill and now face the dangerous situation of having their heat disconnected.

Fortunately, for these individuals and families, help is available. A program called EnergyShare provides grants up to $200 to Con Edison customers who are HEAP eligible. Through a generous grant of $50,000 from The New York Community Trust, and a matching grant of $50,000 from Con Edison, $100,000 was recently added to this program.

“We are grateful to The New York Community Trust and Con Edison for their contributions,” said William R. Guarinello, President and CEO of HeartShare Humans Services of New York, which administers EnergyShare. “This will help us provide an additional 500 grants this winter. We hope to help 1,600 households this year, up from 800 last year.”

“We don’t want to have people choosing between paying their heating bill and buying food,” he continued. “When that happens, people may resort to dangerous measures such as trying to heat their homes with their ovens or overloading outlets with space heaters.”

The EnergyShare program is currently accepting applications. To find a local application center, please call (877) 480-7427.

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Celebrating its 97th year, HeartShare is a nonprofit organization that assists more than 25,000 New Yorkers. Its wide array of services assist individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities through numerous programs including education services, adult day programs, residential services, case management, recreation programs, family support services, and health services. It also provides counseling, after-school programs and assistance with foster care and adoption to children and families, supports people affected by HIV/AIDS, and administers low-income energy assistance programs. For more information, visit www.heartshare.org or follow on Facebook or Twitter.