State Senator Liz Krueger on Coming Extreme Cold Weather

Dear Friend, In the next few days, New York City will be experiencing extremely cold temperatures, and city officials are urging residents not to take this lightly - stay indoors, and if you do go outside dress warmly and keep skin covered. This very cold weather is already beginning to arrive and is expected to be with us until Monday afternoon. Temperatures will be dropping into the single digits, with wind chills as low as 15 degrees below zero. Below are some important reminders from the City Office of Emergency Management. For more information, you can visit www1.nyc.gov/site/em/ready/winter-weather-health-safety.page. I would also encourage everyone to check in with family members and neighbors, especially the elderly, to make sure they are safe from these extreme temperatures. Best, Liz Krueger State Senator Homeless Services Anyone who sees a homeless individual or family out in the cold should call 311 immediately and an outreach team will be dispatched to assist them. What to Do if You Lose Heat or Hot Water at Home Building owners are legally required to provide heat and hot water to their tenants. Hot water must be provided 365 days per year at a constant minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat must be provided between October 1st and May 31st under the following conditions: ·  Between the hours of 6 AM and 10 PM, if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit. ·  Between the hours of 10 PM and 6 AM, if the outside temperature falls below 40 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Any New York City tenant without adequate heat or hot water should first speak with the building owner, manager, or superintendent. If the problem is not corrected, tenants should call 311 or file a complaint at 311 ONLINE (http://www1.nyc.gov/311/index.page) for heat and hot water conditions. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) will take measures to ensure that the building owner is complying with the law. This may include contacting the building's owner and/or sending an inspector to verify the complaint and issue a violation directing the owner to restore heat and hot water if appropriate. If the owner fails to comply and does not restore service, HPD may initiate repairs through its Emergency Repair Program and bill the landlord for the cost of the work. HPD may also initiate legal action against properties that are issued heat violations, and owners who incur multiple heat violations are subject to litigation seeking maximum litigation penalties and continued scrutiny on heat and other code deficiencies.  If You Need Emergency Heating Assistance The Human Resources Administration (HRA) administers the federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which can help low-income renters and homeowners with heating bills and other energy expenses. HEAP can help with:  ·  Regular heating bills from a variety of heat sources (even if heat is included in your rent or you live in subsidized housing) ·  Emergency payments to keep you from losing your heat ·  Replacing damaged furnaces, boilers and heating units Eligibility for HEAP is based on your household income, family size and energy costs. If you are homebound and need help with your heating bills, you can call the NYC Heat Line at 212-331-3150 to arrange a home visit. For more information, call 311.Â