PHOTO BY KSHITIZ NARULA VIA UNSPLASH.COM
Senior Resource Alliance (Website) is urging older adults in Central Florida to apply for emergency utility assistance during the region’s recent cold snap. The nonprofit says seniors in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Brevard counties may be eligible to receive up to $2,000 through the state-funded Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (Website) to help cover utility-related costs.
According to the organization, the assistance can be used to pay past-due utility bills, cover disconnection or late fees, pre-pay energy costs, or purchase basic items like blankets. The push comes as overnight temperatures have dropped into the 20s and 30s, conditions that can be especially dangerous for older adults living on fixed or limited incomes.
To qualify, applicants must provide proof of residence, such as a driver’s license or a utility bill. Seniors who live with someone receiving TANF, SSI, or SNAP benefits are also required to submit documentation showing household income and benefit information.
Senior Resource Alliance reported distributing more than $420,000 in EHEAP assistance between July 2024 and June 2025.
