WARMTH IS A LUXURY NOT ALL CAN AFFORD, BUT WE’RE WORKING TO CHANGE THAT
Winter is a tough time for low-income individuals and families. High utility costs and expensive heating equipment become overwhelming financial burdens. Those striving to make ends meet find themselves having to choose between warmth and other necessities like food or medicine. Can you imagine having to decide whether to keep your children warm or feed them? We can’t, but this is a reality many of our clients face.
An important aspect of keeping warm in winter is energy efficiency. Cold air travels easily through poorly insulated windows and doors. Fixing this issue could require caulking, new windows, replacing the door, repairing the heating system, or even insulating pipes and water heaters. All resolutions can become costly.
In order to help our neighbors in Nassau County stay warm, we refer individuals to our Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and Weatherization Referral and Packaging (WRAP) program, which provide low-income households with services to help increase energy efficiency and cut heating costs. HEAP offers financial assistance to residents who are unable to pay all of their utility and heating bills. WRAP seeks to make homes more energy efficient by providing an energy audit in which we determine how much energy a home consumes. Once the home is evaluated, we help fix the issues that could cause health and/or safety complications.
“I love EAC Network,” said Norma, a HEAP client. “They helped me during a very difficult time. My oil burner was not working and I was without heat and my oil company said that it needed to be replaced. I contacted the Home Energy Assistance Program and was given the information I needed to apply for assistance. The staff were extremely helpful and genuinely concerned about my situation. My application was processed and within days I had a new oil burner and I was nice and warm!”
Staying warm during the winter months may be something a lot of us take for granted. It’s important to remember that we’re not all so lucky. But if misfortune strikes, we find it comforting to know our staff is out there making sure our neighbors keep warm this winter.
To learn more about our Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and Weatherization Referral and Packaging (WRAP) program, click here.
Have you been helped by HEAP or WRAP? Tell us your story!
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Cassandra Huneke was the Development & Marketing Specialist at EAC Network. She graduated from Stony Brook University with a B.A. in English and is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Media Studies at The New School University in New York City.
