Press Conference to Bring Awareness to Federally Funded Program that has Already Provided Millions of Dollars in Relief to Local Households, Additional Funding Still Available 

 Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Westchester County Executive George Latimer will be joined by local social service and nonprofit leaders for a press conference in recognition of “LIHWAP Awareness Day.” The press conference will take place on Thursday, January 12, at 2:00 PM at The Nyack Seaport (21 Burd St., Nyack, NY 10960).

 The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a federally funded program administered by New York State designed to help low-income households reduce the balances on their residential water and wastewater bills. LIHWAP Awareness Day is intended to bring greater awareness of this program to families in Westchester and Rockland Counties who may be eligible for relief. 

Hear from County Executives Day and Latimer and social service and nonprofit leaders about how this program has helped local families and how there’s more funding available. Proclamations will be presented at the press conference, and the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge will be lit yellow – the color of hope – on January 12 in recognition of LIHWAP Awareness Day. 

 WHO: Rockland County Executive Ed Day 

        Westchester County Executive George Latimer

              Joan Silvestri, Commissioner, Rockland County, Dept. of Social Services 

              Leonard Towns, Commissioner, Westchester County, Dept. of Social Services 

              Tom Gabriel, President & CEO, United Way of Westchester and Putnam 

               Steve Papas, President & CEO, United Way of Rockland 

               Additional Speakers TBA 

  WHEN: Thursday, January 12, 2023 

         2:00 PM – 2:45 PM 

 WHERE:  The Nyack Seaport 

                   21 Burd St. 

                   Nyack, NY 10960

 Background

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a federally funded program administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).  

 The program can assist households who have past due bills for water and sewer services and can help prevent water and sewer services from being shut off. LIHWAP is a benefit based on the actual amount of water and/or sewer arrears, up to a maximum of $2,500 per water or sewer provider, or $5,000 if water and sewer services are combined, per applicant household. 

The OTDA has set up a secure Application Portal for households to apply for LIHWAP online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The program will expire on Dec. 31, 2023. Learn more here.