Winter is coming, but federal funding that helps heat tens of thousands of Minnesota households is not, at least until the government shutdown is over.

Still, the Minnesota Department of Commerce is encouraging eligible households to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which continues to accept and process applications despite the hold on funding.

About 80,000 Minnesota households have already applied for the 2025-2026 winter season to receive assistance paying heating bills, repairing or replacing heating systems, and refilling propane tanks.

"Currently, with the shutdown, we have some money that we're able to use to just process applications and to help people with emergency repairs and replacement of heating systems that aren't working," Michael Schmitz

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