"The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which mainly helps households cover their winter heating bills, is one of many federal assistance programs that were put on hold during the 43-day shutdown. New York typically starts enrollment in early November, but delayed it indefinitely as the government shutdown dragged on and federal funds didn't come through."
"The stopgap bill President Donald Trump signed Wednesday night should allow the program to reopen, but it could still take weeks. The spending package includes the same funding for LIHEAP as last year, according to US Representative Paul Tonko's office, when New York received $400 million and served 1.5 million people. But the Trump administration still needs to disburse that funding, and it remains unclear how much will reach New York and when."
""We've had people coming through our hotline the last couple of weeks who are in really desperate straits," said Laurie Wheelock, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Public Utility Law Project (PULP). "Some of them owe everything from $80 to $4,000. ... The"
Federal assistance programs including LIHEAP were paused during a 43-day shutdown, delaying New York's usual early-November enrollment. A stopgap spending bill restores LIHEAP funding at last year’s level, but the Trump administration must disburse funds before the state can reopen applications. New York’s managing agency said it cannot open applications until at least November 24 and will start within 48 hours of receiving funds if they arrive later. Freezing temperatures and a spike in gas and electric shutoffs have left many residents unable to pay heating bills, with callers owing from $80 to $4,000.
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