Westchester County assistance programs.

Locate resources and ways to get help with bills.

If you need help with paying bills or if you need access to resources to help you make it through a difficult time, find information on non-profits below including the Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc. (WestCOP ) is a private, not-for-profit, organization that offers White Plans and Westchester County residents a wide variety of services. They include those noted below:

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Many people are struggling with paying their heating bills during the cold winter months. The HEAP program provides grants that will help to supplement a household’s annual energy cost and heating bills, particularly when energy bills make up a high percentage of a household income. The programs provides grants that can help families pay for natural gas, electricity, propane, wood, oil, coal, kerosene or any other heating fuel. People can also get an emergency benefit for households facing a crisis in a heat or heat related energy emergency. Last, but not least, there is a furnace repair and/or replacement benefit for households with inoperable heating equipment. The White Plains Community Opportunity Program Center has staff that will review and advise Westchester County residents of the program’s availability and requirements. They can also direct them to the appropriate agency or charity at which to apply for benefits, and helps guide them through the application process.

Energy Services (Weatherization Assistance Program)
This program currently focuses on reducing both cooling and heating costs in homes of low and moderate income families, while also ensuring the safe operation of the homes equipment, such as heating appliances, cooking stove, hot water heater, and more. It can reduce energy bills by up to 35%.

Food Aid and Pantry
If you are a seniors, disabled, underemployed, homeless, and facing a crisis situation, and even if you are just another struggling citizen, if you find themselves with limited resources to get food, a bare cupboards and no money to buy groceries for themselves and their families, the food pantry can help. The Food Pantry offers emergency relief and aid to individuals and families in such situations. They can provide them with packages of nutritional groceries and food on an as-needed basis to help them through their crisis of hunger and ensure people are well nourished.

 

 

 

Rent Assistance and Eviction Prevention
The Community Action Group offers emergency eviction prevention services and rent assistance, on a call-in or walk-in, fee-free basis, to help both individuals and families who have fallen into rent arrears. The main goal is to try to ensure people do not get evicted from their homes. Find additional ways to prevent an eviction.

Contact the Westchester community action agency at 2269 Saw Mill River Road, Building #3, Elmsford, New York, phone number (914) 592-5600.

 

Help with paying heating bills

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) that is administered by the Westchester County Department of Social Services is another option. It is federally funded program that was created to help people pay their heating bills.

Qualified households can receive a grant to pay to $700 off their oil bills or the grant can be used for up to $500 for other fuels such as natural gas bills. The exact amount of payments offered to each family will vary depending upon what type of fuel is used, the applicants income, and on whether heat is included in rent payments. To be eligible for heating bill assistance, a household needs to pay for heat directly or make designated payments for heat in the form of their monthly rent payment.

In addition to the grants indicated above, HEAP also offers emergency benefits and cash grants for income eligible households which are facing experiencing heat or heat-related emergencies and if they do not have the resources needed to resolve the issues on their own. Heating bill assistance is also available to replace or repair furnaces, boilers, heaters, and other direct heating components that are needed to keep the home's primary heating source functional.

To learn more or apply, cases call (914) 995-5619.

 

 

Financial assistance and grants in Westchester County

Several other non-profit organizations and charities to contact for help

Catholic Charities of Westchester, Yonkers and Port Chester (phone 914-476-2700) in an organization that provides rent payment assistance to tenants and homeowners facing eviction, or help for other emergency situations. In addition, the agency also provides electric, heating and gas bill payment assistance for those with shut-off notices or emergency situations. Grants, financial assistance and funds are given on a one-time basis and is only partial payment assistance. In addition, referrals to other New York or federal government programs may be given if more help is needed.

Con Edison offers an energy share grant (800-752-6633) provides qualified customers with a $200 grant. The aid is focused at low-income and elderly households that are in danger of getting their gas or electricity disconnected. Individuals who need more information or who want to apply can call a local community action program office to see if they qualify, and they cal also fill out an application a those offices.

If you are very sick and have a life threatening disease, Friends of Karen provides cash grants and financial assistance for eligible families in various ways. They offer help such as Basic Living Expenses (pays for Rent, mortgage payment or utilities, will also give supermarket gift cards). The funds are provided when these bills have have become unmanageable after a child's diagnosis and/or a parent must stop working to care for their sick child. They can also provide support with Illness-related Expenses (such as aid for medical co-pays, transportation for treatment, medical equipment, and childcare expenses for siblings when parents must go to doctor's office or hospital) 914-277-4547 ext. 205

The Salvation Army has various locations including in Peekskill, Port Chester, and other Westchester locations. They offer a wide range of services and resources, including financial assistance for paying rent or utility payments, holiday programs, household products, and funding for food, clothing, etc. for people in an emergency situation. 914-997-6700

Westchester Department of Social Services (phone 914-813-6000) provides grants and financial aid to qualifying individuals and families for food, rent, clothing, shelter, etc. due to a disaster/emergency/crisis.

White Plains Community Action Program (914-428-7030) offers a variety of utility and rent payment assistance programs to low to moderate income individuals who have had an emergency situation and have been unable to pay rent or who are facing a disconnection of their service.

Westchester Residential Opportunities can provide direct cash grants and financial assistance of up to one month for rent or mortgage for families or individuals who may run into an emergency situation that has left them financially strapped. They are located in Mount Vernon and White Plains New York. Phone 914-428-4507.

Other non-profit agencies, charities, and churches to call for rent, utility or heating bills, medication, food or financial assistance programs include:

• Grace Church Community Center - 914-949-3098
• Port Chester Village - 914-939-5200

In addition, dozens of charities, churches, and not for profits provide free food, meals, and groceries in Westchester County and White Plains. Find the extensive listing of Westchester NY food pantries.

Rent assistance programs

Have a Heart for the Homeless may be able to provide rent payment assistance and cash grants to low-income local Westchester residents who have become delayed in rental payments, due to an emergency situation such as a job loss, medical emergency, or other crisis. The maximum grant paid out is $150. Dial 914-993-1540

Also try calling the New Rochelle Community Action Program at 914-636-3050. This non-profit provides rent help, advocacy and landlord/tenant mediation for tenants and landlords in and out of court to prevent eviction from their current accommodations.

Almost 20 other non-profits, charities, and local government programs in Westchester NY focus on offering housing and help for rent. Find information on Westchester rent assistance.

Free health clinics, medical and dental care

A few local facilities and hospitals include the following. All of these clinics and sites provides patients with a wide variety of comprehensive, primary medical care, and the services offered are for individuals and families, including immunizations. If the locations below can’t help you, find more Westchester clinics and other places to call for medical or dental care.

• Open Door Family Medical Center has locations in Port Chester, Mount Kisco and other locations.  914-941-1263
• Hudson Ricer Health Care - 914-734-8800
• Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center - 914-699-7200
• Learn more about free health care programs and how to get help from hospitals.

 

 

Debt assistance and foreclosure prevention

Community Capital Resources (914-747-8020) provides qualified individuals with a series of money management courses covering topics such as basic banking, debt assistance, budgeting and savings, credit and debt management, and how to avoid financial scams and identity theft, credit card help, in addition to one-on-one counseling for debt management plans and foreclosure prevention. Learn more about debt management plans.

Another non-profit is Community Housing Innovation, which can be reached at 914-683-1010 ext. 232. Get information that are offered for workshops with regard to free foreclosure prevention, mortgage assistance and one-on-one counseling for borrowers who are currently in foreclosure proceedings or who are having trouble making mortgage payments. Services offered to homeowners include include negotiation with lenders, services for loan modifications, budget counseling, and foreclosure medication.

The Preservation Company will offer homeowners and people drowning in debt with one-on-one counseling for homeownership, debt reduction, reviews budgets, credit and foreclosure and mortgage counseling, and referrals to applicable grants. Also gain access to counsels and refers for eviction prevention and assistance, occasionally will help with providing for a monthly rent payment, counselors will negotiate with landlords for alternative payment arrangements, offer foreclosure mediation, provides tenant/landlord information and rights, and other legal support. 914-734-8928