ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — The federal Home Energy Assistance Program that helps low-income New Yorkers afford heating and cooling is indefinitely delayed because of the ongoing government shutdown. Scheduled to start accepting applications on November 3, HEAP gave over $287 million to more than 1.5 million low-income households across New York for utilities and fuel deliveries last winter.

Of those households, 968,000 were in New York City. Take a look at the breakdown below for the 2024/2025 winter season, according to Governor Kathy Hochul's office:

In Ulster County alone, more than 15,000 households depend on HEAP. County Executive Jen Metzger said that interrupting the program would have an "immediate and devastating effect on our communities, especially as colder weather approaches."

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