Urgent Measures For New Yorkers As HEAP Funding Uncertainty Looms

While the longest shutdown in American history continues to drag on, Governor Kathy Hochul is ensuring that New York families can survive this winter. Winters in New York are often brutally cold and just as expensive. New York families face uncertainty as the Home Energy Assistance Program is in limbo, waiting for the federal government to fund it for the 2025-2026 season. Approximately 1.5 million New Yorkers rely on HEAP.

Thankfully, Gov. Hochul is taking the lead in making sure families in the state are still protected from skyrocketing heating bills. At the Governor's direction, the major utility companies in New York must make sure that anyone enrolled in the State's Energy Affordability Program, also known as EAP, will continue to receive their discount. Even if the government reopens soon, there is no guarantee that funding for HEAP will be included in the budget.

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Yasmin Young

Because EAP is tied to HEAP, the families relying on the EAP discounts would have lost them do to the federal government shutdown. New Yorkers can go to the State's EAP website to see if they are eligible and learn how to enroll in the program. Gov. Hochul said,

“It’s shameful that Washington Republicans want to leave New Yorkers out in the cold by cutting off federal funds for heating assistance. While Republicans continue to inhumanely ignore the needs of our most vulnerable citizens by allowing this already record-long federal government shutdown to continue, New York is stepping up by enrolling as many households as possible in our state programs to help them receive monthly discounts on their energy bills. But as I’ve said before, no state can fully backfill these devastating federal cuts — and with colder weather on the way, I’m calling on Washington Republicans to immediately provide the federal heat assistance New Yorkers need.”