Sullivan County residents concerned about extreme heat this summer can now apply for cooling assistance through the county’s Home Energy Assistance Program, with officials warning that funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The county’s HEAP office has begun accepting applications for its Cooling Benefit, which provides eligible households with one air conditioner. If installation is not feasible, a fan may be offered instead. Only one unit is available per household, and no additional cash benefits are included.
Eligibility is based on income or participation in certain assistance programs, including SNAP, Temporary Assistance and Supplemental Security Income for individuals living alone. Households may also qualify if they include someone with a documented medical condition worsened by heat or a vulnerable member, such as someone age 60 or older or a child under 6.
Applicants must also meet citizenship or qualified non-citizen requirements, lack a working air conditioner or have one that is at least five years old, and must not have received a HEAP-funded air conditioner within the past five years.
For the 2025–2026 program year, the maximum gross monthly income ranges from $3,473 for a single-person household to $10,221 for a household of 13, with an additional $687 allowed for each extra household member.
Households that received HEAP benefits this past season can apply by phone, while those who did not must complete a full application available through the Sullivan County Department of Social Services in Liberty or the Office for the Aging in Monticello. Applications can also be mailed upon request.
Officials urge residents to apply as soon as possible, noting the program will end once funds are exhausted.
For more information or to apply, residents can call the HEAP office at 845-807-0142 or submit documents by fax or email.