STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As winter prepares to chill New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul is offering a financial reprieve for heating costs through the Home Energy Assistance Program.

“As temperatures have already begun to drop, it’s disgraceful that the federal government took so long to provide federal funding for critical heating assistance for families across the state,” Hochul said in a written statement.

The program, or HEAP, got delayed a month due to the government shutdown as it is federally funded despite being helmed by the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Hochul continued: “Hardworking New Yorkers count on this assistance to help with their utility bills and keep their homes warm during the cold winter months. That’s why I fought hard to restore this funding and

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