Free air conditioning for low income people

New York- Beginning this Thursday , low-income New Yorkers who can prove they have medical conditions made worse by extreme heat will be able to receive free air conditioning , according to an announcement by Governor Andrew Cuomo. High temperatures are expected this summer and the governor asks the most needy families who qualify to apply for a unit as soon as possible . The air conditioners will be awarded in New York State under the Home Energy Assistance Program ( HEAP ). To request a unit, you must present documents from a doctor or specialized nurse verifying the existence of a medical condition. If you receive public assistance you must attach the documents and send everything to the local office of the Department of Social Services . (A list of offices in New York City is here http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/HEAP-contacts.pdf ) If you have received an air conditioner from HEAP in the last 10 years or have a unit in your home manufactured in the last 5 years, you do not qualify for the program. The first to request the unit will be the first to receive it , this until the inventory is depleted. For more information about HEAP and the requirements to obtain a unit , including the minimum income level, visit