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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.

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 at or below 130% of Federal Poverty Level (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)
• Apply online

Emergency Housing

• Homeless* or
• At-risk of homelessness (e.g. late on housing payments/utilities, pending or served eviction notice)

* 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 nightime residence.

Energy Opportunities

• Programs offered for homeowners of all income levels
• Reside in Otsego or Chenango County
• No income eligibility requirements

Head Start

• Children between the ages of 3-5 and
• Household income at or below 130% of Federal Poverty Level (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)
• Apply online

Housing Services

• Information and resources for renters, potential homeowners, and homeowners of all income levels.
• Discounts on online homebuyer education for low-to-moderate income households. See eligibility guidelines below.

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

Weatherization

• Household income at or below 60% of the State Median Income (see chart below)
• Homes cannot have received Weatherization Services within the last 15 years.
• Reside in Otsego or Chenango County

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/Food Stamps, Medicaid, or TANF services

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