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As a humanitarian crisis deepens, the state’s $25 million solution is off to a slow start. An in-depth look at the opaque program reveals a raft of logistical hurdles and strict eligibility requirements.
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Millions of New Yorkers are behind on their utility bills, and advocates say the state is doing a poor job distributing federal assistance.
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“Staff at OTDA seem to be ignoring the plain meaning of the law,” said Senate Housing Committee Chair Brian Kavanagh.
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The $115 million state contract for administering the program required a paper application. Without it, tenants who can’t access technology may be getting left behind.