A program that would have given a one-time $375 payment to thousands of Nassau County residents struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic is now coming to an end.
Many residents said they did not know about the Household Assistance Program (HAP). The grant was funded with federal pandemic money and was spearheaded by former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. It was passed by the Legislature last fall and as of Sunday, more than 70,000 residents applied for the checks.
But now newly-elected County Executive Bruce Blakeman is ending HAP, saying in a statement, “This determination has been made due to the extremely low participation in the program.”
Grasing says she applauded HAP when it first came out, but says the online application was difficult for some.
Democratic County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton says she worked with Curran on HAP – and says the Democrats could have done better. But she says the Blakeman administration did little to promote it once Blakeman took over.
The Blakeman administration is ending HAP on May 15. But with nearly $70 million left in the program – there is no word from the county executive on what he’ll do with the extra funds. Meantime some residents say they’ll look into applying.
Residents who would like to apply for the one-time HAP grants can do so until May 15 at the Nassau County website.