From the Senior Resource Alliance
As temperatures in Central Florida remain hot, there’s some relief for local seniors who are struggling to pay their energy bills. Residents aged 60 or older who live in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Brevard counties may be eligible for up to $5,000 of assistance through the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP), which helps qualifying seniors pay energy bills in an emergency. The program is 100% federally funded through a grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and seniors can now apply for the 2024-2025 funds.
Senior Resource Alliance (SRA), Central Florida’s Area Agency on Aging, oversees EHEAP applications and the distribution of funds in Orange, Osceola, Brevard and Seminole counties. The agency has distributed more than $450,000 in energy bill assistance since August 2023.
“Central Florida seniors face added challenges in the summer months as temperatures rise and drive up energy costs,” said Karla Radka, President and CEO of SRA. "In the face of inflation, it's crucial that seniors know that help is available."
Qualifications for EHEAP eligibility in Central Florida include:
- Applicants must be age 60 or older and reside in a home located in Orange, Seminole, Osceola or Brevard County.
- Proof of residence, such as a driver’s license or other identification. (The energy bill does not need to be in the elder’s name.)
- Applicant must be experiencing a home energy crisis, such as disconnection, delinquency or past due bills.
- Applicants are “categorically eligible” if they can provide proof of TANF, SSI or SNAP benefits, such as an award letter, in addition to documentation of total household income.
In addition to financial assistance with energy bills, EHEAP funds can be used for purchasing summer necessities, such as portable fans and window air conditioners. Benefits can also be used for repairs to an existing heating/cooling unit, deposits to connect or restore energy, late fees and disconnect/reconnect fees, as well as other energy-related actions.
EHEAP applications are being processed directly by three SRA partner agencies: Osceola Council on Aging in Osceola and Orange counties; Meals on Wheels, Etc., in Seminole County; andBrevard Alzheimer’s Foundation in Brevard County. Those interested in applying should contact the Osceola Council on Aging at (407) 846-8532; Meals on Wheels, Etc., at (407) 333-8877; or Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation at (321) 253-4430.
For more information about SRA and its services, please visit SeniorResourceAlliance.org.
Serving the community since 1995, The Senior Resource Alliance (SRA) is the Area Agency on Aging of Central Florida, which covers Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties. SRA works in partnership with nine partner agencies, including the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Resource Center, Aging Matters in Brevard, Brevard Alzheimer’s Association, Informed Families, Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc., Meals on Wheels, Etc., Seniors First, Share the Care and Osceola Council on Aging. The agency is the local resource for accessing the many services and programs of the state and federal government available to senior citizens, their caregivers and family members. SRA is also an objective clearinghouse for information and services offered by local, state and national organizations.
For more information, visit SeniorResourceAlliance.org.
