Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

From November to early spring of each year, Albany Community Action Partnership (ACAP) serves as an alternate certifier for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

HEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Albany County Department of Social Services. Community groups such as ACAP are employed as alternate certifiers to provide community outreach and assist households in processing HEAP applications.

HEAP applications for Albany County residents are accepted at ACAP's two Community Outreach Offices. Our staff will assist income eligible households in completing the application process. The two application categories include regular payment assistance and emergency assistance for applicants who have been issued a shut-off or disconnection notice from their utility company.

The HEAP program is in high demand in Albany County. In the past few years, ACAP's outreach staff has annually processed over 3,500 regular and emergency HEAP applications.

In an effort to make the HEAP program more accessible to clients, ACAP holds a number of "HEAP Assistance Days" at various locations in Albany County. To find out if there is a HEAP day scheduled in your area, check our Events Calendar.

Eligibility
Eligibility for the program is based on income and your housing situation. Your total gross monthly income for your household size must be at or below the following:

2009-2010 Income Guidelines

You must also live in an eligible housing situation. This generally means that you must either pay directly for heating costs or must pay rent that includes heating costs. If you live in subsidized housing, you must pay heating costs separately from your rent. Individual applicants must be U.S. citizens or qualified aliens and live in Albany County.

If you would like to apply for HEAP assistance, you will need to bring the following documentation with you:

• Proof of Income - all income for the last 4 weeks (pay stubs, DSS budget sheet, Unemployment stubs, etc.)
• Proof of Residence - rent receipts, lease, mortgage, etc.
• Identification - ID for all members of household (birth certificate, Social Security card, driver license, etc.)
• Utility Bill - the most recent heating or utility bill, or a rental lease/statement from your landlord that heat is included with rent

If you would like more information on the HEAP Program or want to get started on your HEAP application, you can download & print the following information & bring it with you to one of our outreach offices below.