Some New Yorkers eligible for free air conditioning units as temperatures expected to soar

Some New Yorkers are eligible for free air conditioning units as the state’s governor warned of “significant risk” due to the heat wave sweeping the region.

Under New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), eligible residents will be provided with an air conditioner or fan up to $800 for a window, portable A/C, or fan or up to $1,000 for an existing wall sleeve unit.

One-person households with a maximum gross monthly income of $3,035 could be eligible for the program. The maximum income increases with the household size: for example, a household of six could be eligible for the program if it has less than a gross monthly income of $7,706.

Households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may also be eligible for the program, in addition to households with “a vulnerable member based on their age” – elders over 60 and children under six. 

The program is federally funded, but overseen by New York’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, according to the governor.