Heating Assistance At Risk In New York As Temperatures Drop

🔸New York families may go without heating assistance
🔸The federal government shutdown is negatively affecting programs like SNAP and HEAP
🔸Governor Kathy Hochul places blame on GOP lawmakers

As temperatures continue to drop in New York, families that rely on heating assistance are at risk this winter due to the federal government shutdown. New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, is federally funded, so it is being held hostage by the shutdown. The federal government shutdown has been in effect since October 1, 2025.  Federal workers are suffering, and so are programs that rely on federal funding, such as SNAP and HEAP.

One of the reasons lawmakers are at an impasse is due to the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which will help pay for New Yorkers' healthcare. Democrats are fighting to make sure that healthcare costs do not increase exponentially for 24 million Americans. Republicans control all three branches of government, so they should be working with other lawmakers to pass a budget. While the fight continues, New Yorkers' lives are at risk.

KEEP READING: 2.9 Million New Yorkers May Not Get SNAP In November

Governor Hochul Calls Out GOP Lawmakers For Putting HEAP At Risk

Governor Kathy Hochul is upset with GOP lawmakers, as are many state leaders. With the government shutdown, state-run federally funded programs are at risk of running out of funding due to the government shutdown. Fall will quickly turn into winter here in New York, and vulnerable families and New Yorkers who rely on HEAP to stay warm may be at risk. More than 1.5 million low-income New Yorkers rely on the $287 million in heating assistance to help them survive through our state's brutal winters. Without funding, New York State won't be able to open HEAP. At this point, Gov. Hochul warns that the state won't be able to provide heating assistance until the middle of November or later. Gov. Hochul has a strong message to the GOP regarding the shutdown,

“Thanks to Washington Republicans’ government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of vulnerable New Yorkers are about to be left in the cold. By refusing to open the government and delaying heating assistance funding, Republicans are once again willfully turning their backs on their constituents. Washington Republicans should try actually standing up for the people they represent for a change. They need to do their jobs, end this shutdown, and provide funding to help New Yorkers heat their homes.”

All we can do at this point is hope that Republicans will use their control of Congress to find a resolution to stop the shutdown.

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