I know that many of you are wondering how the couple that I wrote about in my column two weeks ago who were living in a pop-up camper are faring. There is good news: They now have an apartment, because a near and dear friend of mine stepped up.

She had the space, and she made the rent affordable; something they could handle, with some juggling, with their Social Security Disability, so they don’t need social services, for now, to help them cover their housing costs.

She is including the utilities in their rent, which is a good thing for them, a disabled couple in their late 60s, so they don’t have to hassle with NYSEG. But we wondered, because things are so close to the bone, would they still be eligible to receive HEAP, to cover the part of their rent that goes to pay the utilities that they could then turn over to their landlady, also a senior citizen.

Renters who have utilities in their name and meet guidelines are generally eligible for the home energy........

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