Eligibility

Review the list below to see which programs you may be eligible for based on your family situation. For additional information on any program, click the program name. Services are open to residents of Otsego County.

Program Inquiry & Eligibility eForm

Building Healthy Families

  • Pregnant or a child under 3 months of age and
  • Experiencing stress (financial; housing; family/relationships; unmarried; emotional wellness) or
  • Expectant or new mother under 21 years of age or
  • Challenges accessing regular prenatal care
  • No income eligibility requirements
  • Get Connected to Building Healthy Families 

Early Head Start

  • Pregnant or a child under 3 years of age and
  • Household income within established range for family size (see chart below) or
  • Family is receiving SNAP/Food Stamps, TANF, or SSI or
  • Child is in foster care or
  • Child is experiencing homelessness (e.g. living in a shelter, temporarily with family/friends, campground, or other non-permanent nightime residence)
  • Check Your Eligibility
  • Apply online
Maximum Annual Gross Income/Family Size
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
$20,748 $28,132 $35,5165 $42,900 $50,284 $57,668 $65,052 $72,436

Housing costs over 30% of Annual Gross Income may be deducted from income-eligibility calculation. 

Social Security benefits, Veteran's Benefits and Alimony are no longer considered for determining income eligibility. Households larger than 8 people, add $5,680 per person.

Emergency Housing

  • Homeless* or At-risk of homelessness (e.g. late on housing payments, pending or served eviction notice)
  • Opportunity House is a family-only shelter

* Living temporarily with family/friends (AKA "couch surfing") or in a motel/hotel; sleeping in a car, campground, abandoned building, or in a park/public space/under bridge, (AKA "unsheltered"); or another non-permanent nighttime residence.

Energy Services/Weatherization

  • Household income at or below 60% of the State Median Income (see chart below) or provide a HEAP Award Letter dated in the current HEAP season.
  • Homes cannot have received Weatherization Services within the last 15 years.
  • Reside in Otsego or Chenango County
  • Inquire about Weatherization and get on the Wait List
Weatherization Maximum Annual Household Income/Family Size
1 2 3 4 5 6
Up to 60% NYS AMI $41,6760 $54,504 $67,332 $80,160 $92,988 $105,816

Head Start

  • Children between the ages of 3-5 and
  • Household income within established range for family size (see chart below) or
  • Family is receiving SNAP/Food Stamps, TANF, or SSI or
  • Child is in foster care or
  • Child is experiencing homelessness (e.g. living in a shelter, temporarily with family/friends, campground, or other non-permanent nighttime residence)
  • Check Your Eligibility
  • Apply online
Maximum Annual Gross Income/Family Size
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
$20,748 $28,132 $35,5165 $42,900 $50,284 $57,668 $65,052 $72,436

Housing costs over 30% of Annual Gross Income may be deducted from income-eligibility calculation. 

Social Security benefits, Veteran's Benefits and Alimony are no longer considered for determining income eligibility. Households larger than 8 people, add $5,680 per person.

Housing Services

  • Information and resources for renters, potential homeowners, and homeowners of all income levels.

Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK)

  • Resident of Oneonta School District
  • Child must have turned four (4) years old by December 1st of the enrolling school year
  • No income eligibility requirements

The Violence Intervention Program (VIP)

  • Primary or secondary victim of interpersonal  violence (e.g. domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence) or
  • Victim of a crime (e.g. DWI, child witness to a crime, vulnerable person who had savings stolen)
  • No income eligibility requirements

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

  • Pregnant and postpartum women and/or children under the age of 5*
  • Household income at or below 185% of Federal Poverty Level (see chart below) or
  • Recipient of SNAP, Medicaid, Essential Plan (L1-L4), or TANF services or
  • Enrolled in Early Head Start or Head Start

* Fathers, grandparents, guardians, and others can apply for WIC on behalf of children under age 5 in their care.

Household Size WIC Maximum Gross Income Guidelines 
Annual Monthly Twice-Monthly Bi-Weekly Weekly
1 $29,526 $2,461 $1,231 $1,136 $568
2 $40,034 $3,337 $1,669 $1,540 $770
3 $50,542 $4,212 $2,106 $1,944 $972
4 $61,050 $5,088 $2,544 $2,349 $1,175
5 $71,558 $5,964 $2,982 $2,753 $1,377
6 $82,066 $6,839 $3,420 $3,157 $1,579
7 $92,574 $7,715 $3,858 $3,561 $1,781
8 $103,082 $8,591 $4,296 $3,965 $1,983
For each additional HH member + $10,508 + $876 + $438 + $405 + $203

Effective through 6.30.2027

A pregnant person may be considered a family of 2 in certain circumstances

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