Winter’s Heavy Toll on NYC Families: How Rising Heating Costs Impact Low-Income New Yorkers

For many families in New York City, staying warm during the winter is a major challenge. According to the CDC, about 35 New Yorkers freeze to death each year, many of whom are housing insecure, mentally ill, or struggling with addiction. Reports collected by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) show that poor families are hit especially hard by the financial burdens of staying warm and, in turn, must make painful decisions on where to allocate their limited income. Some parents in NYC must choose between heating their homes and feeding themselves and their children, a position that no one should ever have to be in. 

In a New York Times article about this issue, reporters spoke to one family that owed $800 on a water bill and $500 for heat during the winter; other parents interviewed for the article said that they routinely went without meals to ensure their children had enough to eat. Studies have confirmed that low-income families spend less money on food and thus eat less food due to winter budgetary shocks. 

An NLM report found that a 10°F drop in temperature coincided with a $9 monthly spending decrease for poor families, whereas the same temperature drop coincided with an $11 per month increase for better-off families. The same report also found that winter home fuel costs made up 12.3% of the budgets of poorer families but only 9.7% of the budgets of wealthier families. Thus, fuel cost increases during winter months had a greater impact on low-income households. 

As inflation continues to increase, New York’s Public Service Commission (PSC) says that New Yorkers can expect to have higher heating bills this winter, up about 11% from last year. When combined with rising food prices and other inflationary pressures, budgeting for warmth is becoming an increasingly urgent issue. 

“Many New Yorkers face significant barriers during the winter, such as lacking proper winter clothing or struggling to cover increased costs for minor basic needs or transportation to work or school,” says Tracy Coit, Director of BCS’s Health, Housing, and Homelessness Solutions Division. “For those living in shelters or transitional housing, the cold months often add stress as they juggle these needs alongside building their independence.” For New Yorkers who live paycheck to paycheck, heating bills–combined with the costs of warm clothes, shoes, gloves, etc.–present not only a large financial burden but also a mental/emotional burden. Almost one-third of low-income New Yorkers reported struggling with anxiety and/or depression in 2024–more than twice the rate of New Yorkers considered high-income, and winter weather merely adds to the number of daily stressors for those struggling financially.

Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced new funding to help low and middle-income households cover their energy costs. The Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, provides up to $996 to eligible households, as well as emergency benefits that kick in when residents are at risk of having their utility services shut off. Governor Hochul stated that “New Yorkers should not have to choose between heating their home or putting food on the table, and we’re offering critical financial assistance to protect vulnerable New York households as the weather gets colder.” 

BCS, too, is helping New Yorkers stay warm this winter and ensuring that all Brooklynites– particularly those navigating homelessness or unstable housing–are safe and healthy. Our programs utilize donation drives and corporate partnerships to collect essential winter clothing items for our community members and also work with food banks to assist residents experiencing food insecurity. Additionally, we connect our program members to vital government services like HEAP and host workshops on navigating available resources around the city. 

November 2023 food and clothing distribution at O’Dwyer Gardens center in Coney Island

Coit feels lucky to see these measures in action across her division and reflects on an especially meaningful moment with a program member last winter. “[They] were at a transitional shelter and shared how they couldn’t afford a warm coat while saving for their first apartment,” Coit says. “After receiving a coat and boots through one of our drives, they mentioned how this simple support made them feel seen and helped them focus on their long-term goals without worrying about day-to-day survival in the cold.”

November 2024 partnership with Fit4Dance NYC

New York’s winter weather is daunting–and sometimes even dangerous–but there are plenty of resources available to help New Yorkers beat the cold. We’re ensuring that people all over Brooklyn have the support they need to stay warm over the next few months. “Our clients in our communities are incredibly resilient,” Coit says. “Our small gestures of support can make a huge difference in their ability to thrive during the winter.”