Does your mom know you might qualify for the Excelsior Tuition Grant if she helps you file the FAFSA? Why is she nagging you to attend college if she’s not helping to file the paperwork? That doesn’t make sense.
You mentioned your parents not helping. Where is your dad? Can you live with him? Do you have a job? If you can’t afford the utilities on your mom’s Long Island home maybe you should look for a shared apartment.