Englebright: Cooling Assistance Available for Low Income, Medically Frail Residents

Grants are available from New York State to help provide air conditioning assistance to low-income residents with serious medical conditions, State Assemb. Steve Englebright, D-Setauket, announced Monday.

New York State has $3 million to spend via the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which will provide an air conditioner and installation costs to those who qualify.

In order to qualify for the grant, each household must have at least one person diagnosed with an chronic or acute illness which is affected by exposure to extreme heat; each person must also have written documentation from a doctor within the past six months stating that air-conditioning assistance is necessary to prevent a heat emergency.

Englebright said in a statement that the initiative will provide much-needed help cooling the homes of people in need.

 “This year has already brought several heat waves, which can be life threatening for residents with serious medical conditions," he said. "Senior citizens and children with illnesses are most susceptible to heat-related illness, especially on Long Island were extreme heat is often coupled with increased air pollution."

According to the initiative, a single resident must have a maximum income of $25,752 in order to qualify; a couple, $33,672; a four-person household, $49,500.

Homes must be equipped with double-hung windows that move up and down to allow installation of the air conditioner. The cost of operating the air conditioner is not included in the grant. Households that already have a working air conditioner or that have received one from the state within the last 10 years are not eligible for the grants.

The Centereach-based Community Development Corp. of Long Island will handle each part of the process. Call (631) 471-1215 for more information.