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.

* Assists with lowering telephone bill, making it affordable for all customers.

Provides help to individuals and families with basic needs during an emergency or crisis situation. Services include emergency food, and utility or rent payment assistance.

Offers low income households a discount on their monthly verizon primary phone bill.

Offers special services for those with disabilities, such as large print or Braille for the blind or seniors, special notifications and assistance to homes which have someone who is chronically ill, frail elderly, oxygen dependent, or disabled. Also has a program designed specifically for senior citizens for information and referral to government aid programs, safety tips, saving money on the energy bill, printed materials, and bill paying options which might save them money.

Provides a reduction in the delivery and system charges portion of the bill. You may qualify if you receive benefits from certain non-PSEG financial assistance programs. You may be eligible for this rate if you have an active residential PSEG account in your name and are currently receiving benefits from at least one of the following programs: Child Health Plus, Federal Lifeline Program, Federal Public Housing Assistance, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance - Family Assistance (FA), Temporary Assistance - Safety Net Assistance (SNA), US Veteran’s Disability Pension/Surviving Spouse Pension - Non-Service Connected Disability, Veteran’s Pension or Survivor's Benefit.

Offers financial assistance and education to low income customers. Provides information on budget planning, payment plans, energy efficiency strategies, arrears forgiveness, referrals to appropriate resources and case management.

Lifeline is a federal program dedicated to making phone and internet service more affordable for low-income households. This benefit provides eligible consumers with a monthly discount of up to $9.25. Consumers living on Tribal lands are eligible for an enhanced discount of up to $34.25 per month.

Offers a reduced rate on the primary residential phone line for eligible customers. Call for eligibility requirements or visit the Lifeline Support Website (www.lifelinesupport.org).

Provides free wireless phone service to low-income individuals who qualify.

Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) units allow an individual to contact emergency help by pushing a button. PERS units provide peace of mind for individuals who may live alone or be at risk of falling. Units are provided at a reduced cost for individuals aged 60+.

Provides free wireless phone service to low-income individuals who qualify.

* Provides free cell phones and plans to qualified customers throughout New York State.

Project 10Million is free internet for 5 years plus a hotspot device to families with at least 1 student on the national school lunch program - no chance for fees or overages or anything at all

A project of T-Mobile providing free internet, free mobile hotspots, and 100GB of data per year for 5 years to students in grades K-12 who are on the National School Lunch Program. Program is meant to help close the homework gap by ensuring that lack of internet access is not a barrier to any child's education.

Allows low-income households (owners or renters) to receive a discount on their quarterly water bills. Discount for low-income households is $15.00 per quarter ($60 per year), and discount for very low-income households is $22.50 per quarter ($90 per year). Additional discounts are available to senior citizens (see Intake / Application Process below). Program be accessed via Get Wise Water Buffalo, an official Affordable Water Program assistance tool available online.

Provides in-person customer service assistance for any National Fuel related questions, concerns, issues, or special programs as listed below. National Fuel offers a number of payment assistance programs, special protections, and programs for special needs to help make managing utility bill payments easier. More detailed information available at https://www.nationalfuelgas.com/utility/forHome/residential_resources.aspx Low Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP): Offers a heating system check, an energy audit, installation of weatherization, infiltration reduction, natural gas usage reduction measures, and consumer education. Program is for houses with highest levels of consumption. Customers are referred to this program internally. Eligible customers must have an active account and 12 months of uninterrupted service prior to measures. Conservation Incentive Program: Residential customers in the WNY service area can get a number of rebates when appliances are replaced with energy-efficient models. Non-residential customers can get rebates for rentals or business and save money through fixed or customized rebates on select energy-efficient equipment upgrades, regardless of natural gas consumption. Discounts are offered on appliances such as furnaces, water heaters, boilers, and gas dryers. Budget Plan: Divides a customer's estimated annual bill by 12 to establish a more predictable monthly payment amount. Also offers a 10-month budget plan covering September through June. Direct Pay: Pay directly from checking or savings account automatically on the day bill is due. This plan eliminates the need to write checks and buy stamps. Online Services: Receive and pay bills, view account history, submit a meter reading, enroll in the Budget Plan, and more, all electronically. Submit Meter Readings: Report meter readings anytime by calling 888-634-7323 or visiting nationalfuelgas.com Special Protections: For New York customers residing in households where all residents are age 62 or older, 18 or younger, blind or disabled, special protections are available to ensure that the heat stays on in the winter. Neighbor for Neighbor Heat Fund: Home-heating assistance program which provides low-income Western New Yorkers with a one-time yearly cash grant of up to $400 to help prevent disconnection of their utility service, pay current or past due energy bills (excluding electric utilities), or purchase home heating fuel of any kind. Hospitalized Customer Assistance Plan: Provides a 30-day bill-payment extension if there is an anticipated a hospital stay of 10 or more days. Extra Security Plan: Eligible customers can receive an extra measure of security if retired or permanently disabled by coordinating bill due dates to coincide with the arrival of income checks to allow for timely payment. Statewide Low Income Program (SLIP): Customers who receive Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) grants are also automatically enrolled in the Statewide Low Income Program (SLIP), a program that provides monthly discounts on gas delivery charges. The discount amount is based on the amount of the HEAP grant they receive. Any National Fuel Gas customers receiving HEAP are automatically enrolled into SLIP with the respective tier-based credit beginning on the next month’s bill. If You're Out of Work: Offers advice on programs and assistance available to you if you are unemployed or expecting a layoff. Third-Party Notification: Customers can designate a third party to receive any reminder or shut-off notices that may come as a result of forgetting to pay a bill. Assistance Referrals: Provides referrals to community services to help resolve payment problems. Works together with social service agencies to help determine eligibility for various public programs. Smell Gas, Leave Fast: If you smell rotten eggs, it could be a natural gas leak. Leave the premise immediately and contact National Fuel from a different location at 1-800-444-3130, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Provides New York State's low-income utility consumers with information, assistance, and advice about residential utility matters, as well as legal representation in electric, natural gas, telephone, and other utility related matters.

Assists in receiving a monthly water bill discount, which will be applied to meter facility charge. This discount can account for up to 25% of an average residential bill. Automatically enrolled if previously received assistance through the state’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program(LIHWAP). Also, eligible for the program if, in the last 12 months if participated in another utility affordability program or received assistance through qualifying government programs, including: • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance • Federal Lifeline Program • Federal Public Housing Assistance • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) • Medicaid • Safety Net Assistance • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program • Supplemental Security Income • Temporary Assistance to Needy Persons/Families • Tribal Head Start • Tribal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families • Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit Programs

*The Affordable Connectivity Program replaced the Emergency Broadband Program in 2022The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.The benefit provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands. Eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.The Affordable Connectivity Program is limited to one monthly service discount and one device discount per household.Who Is Eligible for the Affordable Connectivity ProgramA household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or if a member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below: Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's existing low-income internet program; Participates in one of these assistance programs: Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program, including at U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Community Eligibility Provision schools. SNAP Medicaid Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program (Section 8 Vouchers) Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA)/202/811 Public Housing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) WIC Veterans Pension or Survivor Benefits or Lifeline; Participates in one of these assistance programs and lives on Qualifying Tribal lands: Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance Tribal TANF Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations Tribal Head Start (income based) Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives or Native Hawaiians .

*Offers free internet for 60 days to households with K-12 or college students.

*Offers free internet for 60 days to households with K-12 or college students.

Government assistance program that helps income eligible customers save money on their phone bills and stay connected to emergency and community services, friends, and family.

Involved in many programs to prevent subsurface discharges that have the potential to threaten our groundwater resources. They include the Petroleum Bulk Storage program, Toxic and Hazardous Materials Storage Program, Sewer Connection Program and closure of On-Site Sanitary Systems, monitoring inactive hazardous waste sites and the Underground Injection Control program (UIC). Nassau County has initiated a septic system replacement program for residents and small businesses -- Septic Environmental Program to Improve Cleanliness (SEPTIC). The SEPTIC program will provide grant funding to eligible recipients to replace a conventional or failing septic system with an innovative and alternative onsite wastewater treatment system. Nassau County is offering grants up to $20,000 for homeowners or small businesses to install state-of-the-art nitrogen reducing septic systems. This grant is available to residents in non-sewered areas of Nassau County. For more information or to apply, please visit www.nassaucountyny.gov/septicreplace. Call for detailed information.

Provides a free cell phone and airtime each month for income-eligible customers.