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As temperatures cool across Eastern Iowa, local officials are warning that the ongoing federal government shutdown could soon disrupt a lifeline for thousands of low-income households that rely on energy assistance to stay warm through the winter.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP — a federal program administered locally by the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program — opened for applications Nov. 1 and typically runs through April 30. It helps thousands of families each year in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Iowa City and surrounding rural areas pay heating bills that can otherwise strain tight budgets.

Last year, HACAP distributed $5.15 million in assistance to 11,017 household

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