Norma Cordova has lived in a home on St. Amelia Drive in the Town of Tonawanda for more than five decades and at 92 years old, she relies on the Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, to help her make ends meet with her gas bill.
“I’m low income, I’m a senior, and it’s important,” Norma tells 7 News.
But this year Cordova says she’s become concerned with her HEAP application. “I want to know why it is taking so long to answer,” says Norma, who says she’s been unable to get an update on her benefits status since applying for HEAP on November 11th.
“It’s emotional and scary when the government doesn’t answer the phone,” says Norma.
Norma says she has called the HEAP phone line more than 10 times over the last several months and has been unable to reach anyone to discuss her application until Friday. “She said it might have went through the cracks. What does that mean?” said Norma.
So 7 News took Norma’s concerns to the Rath Building in Downtown Buffalo and met with Daniel Szewc, Erie County’s Executive Director of Social Services.