Emergency Rent Assistance And Discretionary Fund

GHPN has been allocated a variety of funds to be able to provide assistance to community members in ways that align with the mission and core values of the organization. Each funding source maintains their own criteria for how funds are allocated. Each request for Emergency Assistance that is received is carefully reviewed and considered. We have observed the significant impact that this source of Emergency Assistance has had on families in our community.

Each request for Emergency Assistance that is received is carefully considered; to date, we have assisted folks to meet a wide range of needs and have observed the immediate impact by providing this form of direct relief, including, but not limited to: urgent rent assistance, car insurance or vehicle loan payment, utilities, clothing, cleaning supplies, driver’s education courses, sports programming, and medical equipment not covered by medical insurance or otherwise affordable.

To apply for emergency assistance, Columbia County residents can request a form via email from our Director of Family & Community Initiatives, Aisia Smith, aisia@greaterhudsonpromise.org or by calling our office, 518-929-7732. Please allow 2-3 business days for your application to be processed and reviewed; staff will respond to requests as quickly as possible.

Past Emergency Assistance Initiatives

Emergency Food response

In November 2025, in response to the unprecedented interruption to SNAP benefits during the federal government shutdown, with the generous support of various donors and partners, Promise staff distributed $58,970 in direct grocery assistance via grocery gift cards (to famillies’ preferred stores for food shopping) throughout Columbia County. This immediate relief was felt by 760+ members of our community before benefits were reinstated.

Emergency Air conditioners

Each summer from 2021-2024, GHPN partnered with the Spark of Hudson to purchase and distribute a total of 189 air conditioner units to residents of the Hudson City School District, providing much needed relief from the heat to children and families in our community in need.