HARTFORD, Conn. - Following the recent federal government shutdown, which ended on November 12, about $3.6 billion in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been released to states and tribes, as reported by the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. This funding is vital for millions of low-income households experiencing the onset of colder weather, as it assists them in covering their heating and cooling costs.
Mark Wolfe, executive director of NEADA, emphasized the significance of this funding release, calling it 'essential and long overdue,' allowing families to finally receive the help they desperately need during winter.
Typically, states receive their LIHEAP allocations at the start of November; however, the funding was withheld due to ongoing political battles. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the program, has yet to issue an official public announcement regarding the resumption of funding distribution, despite indications that it would move quickly after the shutdown.
State agencies have reportedly begun receiving award letters from HHS, enabling them to allocate assistance to affected households. Wolfe noted that a bipartisan group of U.S. House members had sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging the immediate release of these funds, stressing the urgency for households reliant on heating oil or propane.
With approximately 68% of LIHEAP households also receiving SNAP food benefits, the delays during the shutdown compounded the issues for many families facing elevated energy prices and challenging economic conditions. Wolfe expressed that while the recent funding release is good news, the demand for assistance in these communities remains critically high.
Mark Wolfe, executive director of NEADA, emphasized the significance of this funding release, calling it 'essential and long overdue,' allowing families to finally receive the help they desperately need during winter.
Typically, states receive their LIHEAP allocations at the start of November; however, the funding was withheld due to ongoing political battles. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the program, has yet to issue an official public announcement regarding the resumption of funding distribution, despite indications that it would move quickly after the shutdown.
State agencies have reportedly begun receiving award letters from HHS, enabling them to allocate assistance to affected households. Wolfe noted that a bipartisan group of U.S. House members had sent a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. urging the immediate release of these funds, stressing the urgency for households reliant on heating oil or propane.
With approximately 68% of LIHEAP households also receiving SNAP food benefits, the delays during the shutdown compounded the issues for many families facing elevated energy prices and challenging economic conditions. Wolfe expressed that while the recent funding release is good news, the demand for assistance in these communities remains critically high.
