Provides assistance with basic needs for individuals or families who have emergency need. Services provided, as resources permit, include emergency rent payment assistance, clothing, utility assistance on a limited basis (excluding water/sewer bills), and personal hygiene items (shampoo, toothpaste, sanitary items, diapers).

Offers food vouchers from the Utica office, and a food pantry for individuals and families in the Rome area. Assists with prescription dug assistance for up to a month supply, depending on fund availability to Madison County residents.

* Provide financial assistance for: Rent payment. Security deposit. Utilities.

Offers temporary help for individuals and families in need while they work towards self sufficiency. Will assist with security deposit or first month's rent, but not both.

Family Assistance (FA) provides money for families with children. Cash benefits are limited to five years in a recipient's lifetime. After five years, a Family Assistance recipient may continue to receive benefits if an adult is disabled and cannot work or may be required to apply for assistance through the Safety Net category.

Safety Net Assistance (SNA) provides money for basic living expenses for single adults and childless couples (or families who have used up their five-year limit of FA). Cash benefits are limited to two years in a recipient's lifetime. After two years, the non-cash Safety Net Assistance voucher system provides benefits.

Emergency Temporary Assistance through Emergency Assistance for Families (EAF) or Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA) provides assistance for crisis situations including evictions, moving expenses, utility shutoffs, and diversion payments to help individuals avoid the need for ongoing assistance. Individuals do not need to be on public assistance to receive Emergency Temporary Assistance.

Lifeline provides discounts, currently $9.25 per month, on landline or wireless telephone service, for eligible low-income subscribers***.ONE Lifeline service is permitted per household, defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address as one economic unit.Applications are made through the current telephone company or preferred company. For a list of phone companies, click NYS Phone Companies.***At or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or participating in benefit programs such as Food Stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, SSI (Supplemental Security Income), HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program), Veteran's Disability or Surviving Spouse Pension, Section 8, etc.Link-Up America, which helped income-eligible consumers pay telephone installation costs or wireless activation fees, has been discontinued, except in certain tribal areas.

* Facilitates applications for financial assistance to low income individuals through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which offers various benefit components. Regular Benefit: assists low income individuals with the cost of heating their home. Emergency Benefit: assists low income individuals who are facing a heat or heat related energy emergency.

* Offers support services and programs to families in need, such as: Homeless Intervention and Case Management. Supportive Housing Program for Adults. Car Seat Distribution. Health insurance access. Personal Care Pantry. HEAP enrollment. Rapid Re-Housing of Homeless Families. Kinship Care Program. Kinship Care Support Group. Medicaid Transportation Program.

Assists individuals with National Grid who have exhausted all sources of HEAP.

Provides funds to help with utility disconnect notices and with eviction/foreclosure prevention.

Offers grant to assist with fuel or energy costs when the Federal HEAP funds have been depleted or families have not qualified for the Federal program.

Provides a food pantry and assists with food and other emergencies such as utilities, fuel, and shelter. Also works with families in the area of family development, including budgeting as well as job skills and job search assistance.

Provides financial help with heating and cooling for low-income households.

Offers individuals assistance to apply for HEAP benefits.

Provides qualified customers with high-speed internet at an affordable price. The program has no contracts, data use caps or hidden fees. New customers can complete our online application and select between:Spectrum Internet Assist: Includes 50-Mbps high-speed internet, parental controls, Security Suite and an internet modem for $25 per month. An additional discount may reduce your cost to $15. ORSpectrum Internet Advantage: Includes 100-Mbps high-speed internet, parental controls, Security Suite and an internet modem for $30 per month for 1 year.Existing Spectrum Internet Assist customers may qualify for an additional benefit. Find out more.To submit your information by mail, please download and print the PDF version of the form (English | Espanol).

Provides financial assistance to help low-income households meet home energy costs.

Regular Benefits range from $20 to $500. Amounts depend on income, age of household members, energy costs and shelter situation. Typically it is a one-time only benefit during the program year.

Emergency Benefits are available for persons who are eligible for HEAP and have an energy-related emergency such as a power shutoff, less than tank oil, kerosene or propane or have less than 10 days' supply of wood, pellets or coal. Applicant households must meet a resource test. Benefit amounts vary. Typically it is a one-time only benefit during the program year.

Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement Benefits are available to repair or replace a furnace, boiler, or other direct heating equipment necessary to keep the home's primary heating source working.

Cooling Assistance Benefits are available to purchase and install an air conditioner or a fan to help keep the home cool. Individuals must have already received a regular benefit greater than $21 and have a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by heat.

Clean and Tune Benefits are available to clean the household's primary heating equipment, but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper, and efficient operation of the heating equipments. Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to provide clean and tune services, up to a maximum of $400.

Regular Benefits range from $20 to $500. Amounts depend on income, age of household members, energy costs, and shelter situation. Typically it is a one-time only benefit during the program year.

Emergency Benefits are available for persons who are eligible for HEAP and have an energy-related emergency, such as a power shutoff, less than tank oil, kerosene, or propane, or less than ten days' supply of wood, pellets, or coal. Applicant households must meet a resource test. Benefit amounts vary. Typically it is a one-time only benefit during the program year.

Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement Benefits are available to repair or replace a furnace, boiler, or other direct heating equipment necessary to keep the home's primary heating source working.

Cooling Assistance Benefits are available to purchase and install an air conditioner or a fan to help keep the home cool. Individuals must have already received a regular benefit greater than $21 and have a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by heat.

Clean and Tune Benefits are available to clean the household's primary heating equipment but may also include chimney cleaning, minor repairs, installation of carbon monoxide detectors or programmable thermostats, if needed, to allow for the safe, proper, and efficient operation of the heating equipment. Benefit amounts are based on the actual cost incurred to provide clean and tune services, up to a maximum of $400.

Assists individuals in the community by promoting safety, healthy families and economic stability.

Offers temporary help for individuals and families in need while they work towards self sufficiency. Will assist with security deposit or first month's rent, but not both.

Family Assistance (FA) provides money for families with children. Cash benefits are limited to five years in a recipient's lifetime. After five years, a Family Assistance recipient may continue to receive benefits if an adult is disabled and cannot work or may be required to apply for assistance through the Safety Net category.

Safety Net Assistance (SNA) provides money for basic living expenses for single adults and childless couples (or families who have used up their five-year limit of FA). Cash benefits are limited to two years in a recipient's lifetime. After two years, the non-cash Safety Net Assistance voucher system provides benefits.

Emergency Temporary Assistance through Emergency Assistance for Families (EAF) or Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA) provides assistance for crisis situations including evictions, moving expenses, utility shutoffs, and diversion payments to help individuals avoid the need for ongoing assistance. Individuals do not need to be on public assistance to receive Emergency Temporary Assistance.

Provides assistance to households who are facing eviction or utility shut-off or are in need of first month's rent.

The Office for Aging HEAP Unit takes applications for those age 60 or over and for those who are disabled and receiving SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSD (Social Security Disability) and who do not receive SNAP (food stamps) or Temporary Assistance. Provides financial help with heating and cooling for low-income households.

Emergency assistance is offered through a voucher to those eligible for rent (with eviction notice), security deposit (with lease agreement), utilities (such as heat, electricity, and water with a shut-off notice), and other emergency situations.

* Provides referrals to home repair and heating/cooling programs.

Update July 2024- The Samaritan Center has a NOEP coordinator that assists with SNAP eligibility and application.Referrals and assistance to low-income residents with urgent needs at its Ithaca offices and food pantries in Danby, Groton and Caroline.Free clothing, personal care products, linens, towels sheets and diapersAccepts gently used donations of bedding (sheets, blankets,etc.), towels and clean clothing for men, women and children, including shoes.Once-a-year emergency financial help when resources are available:Security deposits eligibility requirements:-Tompkins County resident moving within Tompkins County-Ineligible for Department of Social Services security deposit voucher-Family has not received security deposit funds in the past 5 years-Income must be less than 60% AMI guidelines-Assistance must be within the FMR guidelines for the unit size and household size-Application and approval process take about 2 weeks-Applicant can not reside in unit before approved inspection or application approvalUtilities- Must have shut-off notice and denial from DSS during HEAP (they are flexible w/ requiring DSS denial letters).Can do minimal fills for propane.Back rent - when funding is available (similar eligibility guidelines as security deposits program)Prescription medications (controlled substances not eligible)Transportation assistance - bus passes or gas vouchers for: education (semester long), employment (verification required-not to look for employment), or medical appointments within Tompkins County.Limited car repair funding available, applicant needs a quote and mechanic needs a W9. Applicant pays the difference for repairs beyond $500.Moving Assistance (limited funding)- Partnership with Reuse where CC refers to the ReMap program for store credit to get furniture, household goods, appliances, etc., and Reuse provides access to moving truck, driver and movers for up to 2 hours for one move per year.-Move must be within Tompkins County.-Low-income households (60% AMI guidelines)-The program doesn't have the capacity to go up and down multiple floors when moving items.-All items must be packed and prepped for moving.-Items can be moved to a storage facility rather than apartment, if there is not a new apartment lined up yet-Refer to the Samaritan Center for screening.Tompkins County site for:Fidelis, Child Health Plus, Medicaid, and Medicare applicationsFood Stamps screeningAnnual Winter Event "Share the Warmth": clothing drive gathers items at red collection bins throughout Tompkins County. Seeks donations of clean items in good condition (working zippers, no missing buttons, no spots/stains). Typically late November or Early December.

Offers individuals assistance to apply for HEAP benefits.