Albany County reauthorizes HEAP outreach contract with Cornell Cooperative Extension amid funding uncertainty

Albany County commissioners voted to authorize a contract with Cornell Cooperative Extension to provide outreach and application assistance for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

County Financial Services staff told the board Cornell Cooperative Extension assisted the county during the 2024–2025 season by helping with 1,937 HEAP applications, handling about 4,000 HEAP‑related calls and messages, and conducting outreach at 12 locations across the county. "They assisted us with 1,937 HEAP applications," a county Financial Services representative said.

During the discussion staff warned that HEAP funding from federal and state sources is uncertain for the coming season and that the county may not know funding levels until around September. "We won't know that until probably the September. And if there is, we're anticipating that there'll be some cuts in the amount of funding that will be available to the community as far as heating assistance goes," the county representative said.

Staff outlined contingency plans if HEAP funding is reduced: the county could redirect eligible residents to the county's emergency assistance programs (different application processes), which staff described as more cumbersome and in some cases loan‑like and repayable. Staff also said the county had observed a spike in emergency assistance requests when HEAP funding closes each year and noted that for certain single adults the county share of emergency assistance may be as high as 71 percent.

The board approved the contract authorization by voice vote; the transcript did not include a roll‑call tally. Staff said Cornell Cooperative Extension has been a long‑standing contractor for HEAP outreach and assistance.