As rising living costs and unpredictable winter weather continue to strain household budgets, South Jersey Gas has teamed up with Atlantic City Electric and the United Way of Gloucester County to host a critical energy assistance enrollment event.
The on-site support session will take place at the Glassboro Public Library on Monday, March 16, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Residents will have the opportunity to work directly with outreach specialists to navigate and enroll in state-funded relief programs designed to lower utility bills and prevent service interruptions.
The event focuses on three primary assistance programs that offer varying levels of financial relief based on income and crisis status:
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LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): A federally funded program that provides annual grants to help low-to-moderate-income households meet home heating and medically necessary cooling costs.
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USF (Universal Service Fund): A state program that provides monthly credits—ranging from $5 to $180—directly to natural gas and electric bills to make them more affordable year-round.
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NJ SHARES: Provides one-time grants of up to $700 for households in a temporary financial crisis who may not qualify for other state or federal aid.
The United Way of Gloucester County, which has raised nearly $100 million for local social services since 1957, emphasized that these partnerships are vital for “building community capacity.”
“With the cost of living continuing to rise… many of our neighbors are falling further and further behind,” Dan Jurman, executive director of the United Way of Gloucester County said. “That’s why we’re so pleased to work with partners like South Jersey Gas and Atlantic City Electric to give people the opportunity to get the help they need.”
To ensure applications can be processed on-site, residents are required to bring copies of the following documentation:
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Housing proof: A copy of your current lease or mortgage statement.
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Utility records: Your most recent gas and electric bills.
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Identification: ID cards for all household members (including school IDs).
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Social Security: SS cards for all members (birth certificates for infants under 1 year).
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Proof of Income: Documentation for all working individuals, including the last two pay stubs (if paid biweekly) or four stubs (if paid weekly), plus any social security, disability, or unemployment letters.
“We work to provide financial assistance information to eligible households so they can secure the financial relief they need to keep their homes safe, warm, and affordable,” Christina Teel, senior customer outreach specialist at SJI said.
