Care and Share heating bill assistance program in New York.
The Care and Share energy bill assistance program can help New Yorkers with paying their heating and gas bills. The non-profit HeartShare organization, working with local charities and other non-profits, administers it across almost 40 counties in the state. The program will mainly pay a portion of a qualified applicants winter heating and gas bills and it is available for those families that have no other options available to them. So that means the applicant needs to have applied for government assistance, worked with other local non-profits and charities, and have taken other steps before Care and Share may be able to help them.
The program has been operating since the 1980s and it relies on donations from the community. National Grid was the company that originally founded the program but it has expanded since then. It now is offered across dozens of counties and is run in partnership with local non-profits, charities, and other energy providers.
Care and Share helps low income, struggling and HEAP eligible customers pay their heating bills when no other financial assistance is available to them. It also provides people with the ability to give back to their communities and to help the less fortunate by contributing funds. The non-profit HeartShare administers it across the state in partnership with local non-profits, as indicated below. Dial 1-(855) 852-2736.
The various non-profit groups that oversee the program kindly ask for your help and donations. Anything you contribute will go towards providing assistance to the less fortunate. Many of those who are helped are people from your local community, or maybe even your neighbors that are in need. Anyone can make a tax-deductible donation to the Care & Share Energy Fund Program and your money will help someone or a family stay warm during the cold New York winters. Utility companies across the region will also usually make one time donations or matching contributions.
The enrollment period will start during the December or January time frame. People that live in upstate, central, and western New York may be able to apply at that time, provided they meet the conditions of the program. It really covers the entire state with the exception of the NYC and Long Island area.
As with any assistance program, there are income and other guidelines in place. All applicants will need to fall within the federal government HEAP income guidelines in order to qualify for the fund. They also need to be out of resources and be facing a short term crisis that they did not cause.
Several non-profits in towns and counties across New York process applications. Appointments will be required. One big advantage of Care and Share is that applicants can apply for grants and funds from both programs at the same time so that they can receive maximum assistance.
So between the Care and Share resource, government assistance, and other aid that may be provided in your community, residents have several places to turn to for emergency funds for paying their winter heating bills. A key beneficiary of these resources are those at risk without heat, namely the elderly and families with young children. In addition, if there is a crisis of losing heat during the winter, then families can apply for emergency LIhEAP grants.
The administration of the program can change over time. It involves regional charities and non-profits in New York. However now HeartShare Human Services of New York is also helping with the administration of the Care & Share fund at the state level. The places to call to apply are listed below. Or call the main intake number at 1-(855) 852-2736.
Application sites for Care and Share
Allegany County
Accord Corporation runs the program for the region. They offer several places to apply at for Care and Share, as indicated below.
- Belmont Access Center, 84 Schoyler Street, Belmont, NY 14813, 585-268-7605
- Bolivar Access Center, 71 Boss StreetBolivar, NY 14715, dial 585-268-7605
- Wellsville Access Center, 15 Martin Street, Wellsville, NY 14895, call 585-268-7605
Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus CommunityAction is at 25 Jefferson Street in Salamanca, NY 14779. Dial 716-945-1041
Cayuga County
Catholic Charities of the Finger Lakes runs the heating assistance program. Address is 134 E. Genesee St, Auburn, NY 130211. Call 315-253-2222.
Columbia County
Columbia Opportunities Inc., 540 Columbia Street, Hudson, NY 12534, telephone 518-828-4611
Columbia County Office For The Aging (Seniors Only), 325 Columbia Street, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-828-4258
Cortland County
Cortland County Cap Inc. (CAPCO), 32 North Main Street, Cortland, NY 13045, 607-753-6781
Erie County
Community Action Organization Of Erie County Inc. The address is 45 Jewett Ave. – Suite 150, Buffalo, NY 14214. For applications dial or information on heating programs in western New York, dial 716-881-5150.
Fulton & Montgomery County
Catholic Charities, 1 Kimball Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010, 518-842-4202
Fulton County Office For The Aging, 19 North Williams Street, Johnstown, NY 12095, dial 518-736-5650
Genesee County
Salvation Army, 529 East Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020, phone number is 585-343-6284
Herkimer County
Catholic Charities Of Herkimer County, 61 West Street, Ilion, NY 13357, main phone number is 315-894-9917
Jefferson County
Senator Patricia Ritchie, 317 Washington Street, 315-782-3418
Watertown Urban Mission, 247 Factory Street, Watertown, NY 13601, telephone 315-782-8440. This non-profit processes applications for Care and Share in northern New York state.
Livingston County
Community Action for Wyoming County is at 6470 Route 20A, Suite 1 in Perry, NY 14530. Call 585-237-2600.
Fulton & Montgomery County Catholic Charities, 1 Kimball Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010, 518-842-4202
Niagara County
Community Action Organization Of Erie County Inc, and ring 716-881-5150.
Oneida County
Oneida Indian Nation Pathways Program (Native Americans Only), 579 Main Street, Oneida, NY 13421, 315-829-8763
Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, 9882 River RoadUtica, NY 13502, 315-624-9930
Onondaga County
Canton Woods Senior Center (Seniors Only), 76 Canton Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027, 315-638-4536
Peace Inc is the regional non-profit community action agency. They process applications for Care and Share and other heating bill programs. Several other social services are also offered by the non-profit.
- County West Family Resource Center, 93 Syracuse Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027, 315-638-1051
- County East Family Resource Center, 215 W. Manlius St. #2, East Syracuse, NY 13057, 315-437-7071
- County South Family Resource Center, 12 Clinton Street, Tully, NY 13159, dial 315-696-8203
- Eastside Family Resource Center, 202 Beech Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, 315-470-3325
- Project Connnection Family Resource Center, 1085 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, 315-474-3011
- Southside Family Resource Center, 136 Dr. Martin Luther King W, Syracuse, NY 13205, 315-470-3342
- Westside Family Resource Center, 200 Wyoming Street, Syracuse, NY 13204, 315-470-3352
Orleans County
Genesee Orleans Ministry Of Concern, 121 North Main Street, Albion, NY 14411, 585-589-9210
Oswego County
Care and Share is run by a few charities or non-profits, covering both the city of Oswego and city of Fulton NY.
Senator Patricia Ritchie, 46 East Bridge Street- 1st fl, Oswego, NY 13126, call 315-342-2057
Catholic Charities, address is 365 West 1st Street, South Fulton, NY 13069, 315-598-3980
Otsego County
Senator James Seward, 518-455-3131
Rensselaer County
Unity House Of Troy, Inc., 309 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180, 518-272-2352
Schenectady County
Schenectady Community Action Program (SCAP), 913 Albany Street, Schenectady, NY 12307, call 518-374-9181
Schoharie County
Schoharie County Office For The Aging (Seniors Only), 113 Park Place, Schoharie, NY 12157, telephone 518-295-2001
Senator James Seward, 518-455-3131
St. Lawrence County
Senator Patricia Ritchie, 330 Ford Street, Ogdensburg, NY 13669, dial 315-393-3024
Canton Neighborhood Center, 5 West Canton Street, Canton, NY 13617, 315-386-3541
Massena Neighborhood Center, 61 Beach Street, Massena, NY 13662, 315-764-0050
Potsdam Neighborhood Center, 2 Park Street, Potsdam, NY 13676, dial 315-265-3920
Gouverneur Neighborhood Center, 15 Rock Island Street, Gouverneur, NY 13642, call 315-287-3370
Ogdensburg Neighborhood Center, Ford Street City Hall, Ogdensburg, NY 13669 phone 315-393-5561
Colton/pierrepont/Parishville Neighborhood Center (3 Sites) include Colton Community Center (phone 315-262-3175), Pierrepont Town Hall (dial 315-386-8311) and also Parishville Town Hall (telephone 315-265-6180).
Warren & Hamilton Counties
Warren-Hamilton Community Action Agencies, 190 Maple Street, Glen Falls, NY 12801, 518-793-0636
Wyoming County
Catholic Charities, 417 West Main Street, Arcade, NY 14009, 585-492-0407
For more, locations to apply at, or details on the Care & Share Energy Assistance Fund, dial (855) 852-2736.
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