Oct. 29, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Northampton County may be able to assist eligible senior residents with heating bills this winter, as long as they don’t live in Bethlehem.
It’s not that the county doesn’t like Christmas City residents. Bethlehem receives its own Housing and Urban Development funds, and “federal funding guidelines prohibit Northampton County from using its allocation to assist residents within the City’s designated funding area.”
With that out of the way, everybody else who’s interested should check the requirements: be 60 or older, live in the county (not in Bethlehem), meet HUD guidelines and provide proof of household income, have a fuel tank that is one-quarter full or less if seeking fuel assistance, provide proof of residency and have a shut-off request handy if seeking assistance with non-oil heat.
“No older adult in Northampton County should have to worry about whether they can afford to heat their home during the winter months,” said Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski said in a press release today.
Eligible residents will receive up to $780.
For information, call 610-559-3270 or 610-829-4800.
With higher electric bills and school taxes, and some municipal taxes going up, along with a potential 44% increase in county property tax, some residents are going to have make difficult choices. Food or heat, perhaps?
The Northampton County Area Agency on Aging will begin accepting referrals for its Emergency Fuel Assistance Program on November 2, 2026.
Please see the county statement at this link and below is a cut-and-paste version with details:
Northampton County Announces Emergency Fuel Assistance Program for Eligible Seniors
October 29, 2026
[Northampton County, PA] – The Northampton County Area Agency on Aging will begin accepting referrals for its Emergency Fuel Assistance Program on November 2, 2026. Funded through a federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant administered through the Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the program provides financial assistance to eligible older adults who need help heating their homes during the colder months.
The program provides one-time seasonal fuel assistance of up to $800 per eligible household, with $780 allocated toward fuel costs and $20 designated to Project of Easton for administrative expenses.
“No older adult in Northampton County should have to worry about whether they can afford to heat their home during the winter months,” said Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski. “Programs like this provide critical assistance to seniors living on fixed incomes who are already facing rising costs for everyday necessities. We are proud to support this initiative and help ensure our older residents can remain safe, warm, and secure in their homes.”
To qualify for assistance, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
• Be 60 years of age or older.
• Reside in Northampton County, *excluding the City of Bethlehem
• Meet HUD income guidelines and provide proof of household income.
• Have a fuel tank that is one-quarter full or less, if applying for fuel assistance.
• Provide proof of residency through a current lease or a letter from the landlord, along with two pieces of mail, one of which must be a bill.
• Provide a shut-off notice if requesting assistance for non-oil heating.
• Have exhausted Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits or have been denied LIHEAP assistance.
How to Apply
Residents seeking assistance should contact Northampton County Information & Referral Emergency Services at 610-559-3270 or 610-829-4800.
Once a referral is received, a Northampton County Area Agency on Aging staff member will schedule a home visit to review the applicant’s circumstances and determine eligibility.
The Emergency Fuel Assistance Program is part of Northampton County’s ongoing commitment to supporting older adults and helping vulnerable residents maintain safe and stable living conditions.
*Please note: Residents of the City of Bethlehem are not eligible for this program because the City receives its own allocation of federal HUD funding. Although the City uses its funding differently, federal funding guidelines prohibit Northampton County from using its allocation to assist residents within the City’s designated funding area.
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Here is a link to the county statement and below is a cut-and-paste version:
Northampton County Announces Emergency Fuel Assistance Program for Eligible Seniors
October 29, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 29, 2026
[Northampton County, PA] – The Northampton County Area Agency on Aging will begin accepting referrals for its Emergency Fuel Assistance Program on November 2, 2026. Funded through a federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant administered through the Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the program provides financial assistance to eligible older adults who need help heating their homes during the colder months.
The program provides one-time seasonal fuel assistance of up to $800 per eligible household, with $780 allocated toward fuel costs and $20 designated to Project of Easton for administrative expenses.
“No older adult in Northampton County should have to worry about whether they can afford to heat their home during the winter months,” said Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski. “Programs like this provide critical assistance to seniors living on fixed incomes who are already facing rising costs for everyday necessities. We are proud to support this initiative and help ensure our older residents can remain safe, warm, and secure in their homes.”
To qualify for assistance, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
• Be 60 years of age or older.
• Reside in Northampton County, *excluding the City of Bethlehem
• Meet HUD income guidelines and provide proof of household income.
• Have a fuel tank that is one-quarter full or less, if applying for fuel assistance.
• Provide proof of residency through a current lease or a letter from the landlord, along with two pieces of mail, one of which must be a bill.
• Provide a shut-off notice if requesting assistance for non-oil heating.
• Have exhausted Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits or have been denied LIHEAP assistance.
How to Apply
Residents seeking assistance should contact Northampton County Information & Referral Emergency Services at 610-559-3270 or 610-829-4800.
Once a referral is received, a Northampton County Area Agency on Aging staff member will schedule a home visit to review the applicant’s circumstances and determine eligibility.
The Emergency Fuel Assistance Program is part of Northampton County’s ongoing commitment to supporting older adults and helping vulnerable residents maintain safe and stable living conditions.
*Please note: Residents of the City of Bethlehem are not eligible for this program because the City receives its own allocation of federal HUD funding. Although the City uses its funding differently, federal funding guidelines prohibit Northampton County from using its allocation to assist residents within the City’s designated funding area.
