As winter approaches, millions of Americans are wondering if they’ll be able to afford to keep the heat on — and Washington isn’t helping. With Democrats refusing to move forward on government funding, a growing number of families could be left shivering while Congress plays politics.
Nearly six million households depend on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a $4.1 billion fund designed to help vulnerable families cover heating costs. But as the government shutdown drags into its fifth week, states are warning that the program’s funds are running out — leaving seniors and low-income Americans exposed to rising energy prices and falling temperatures.
Jacqueline Chapman, a retired school aide in Philadelphia living on a $630 monthly Social Security check, told Boston’s WCBB5 she’s already been hit by food stamp delays — and now fears her heating assistance could disappear too. “I feel like I’m living in scary time,” she said. “It’s not easy to rest when you know you have things to do with limited accounts, limited funds. There isn’t too much you can do.”
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports around 42 million Americans, is also feeling the impact. A federal judge in Rhode Island recently ordered the Trump administration to partially fund the program using reserve dollars, but those funds won’t last long.
Meanwhile, families are facing higher bills across the board. Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), warned, “The impact, even if it’s temporary, on many of the nation’s poor families is going to be profound if we don’t solve this problem.” He added that “important income supports” like LIHEAP are “all potentially heading toward a cliff at the same time.”
Behind the scenes, there’s another issue brewing: rising energy costs driven by heavy-handed federal regulation and a push away from affordable, domestic energy sources. Wolfe told USA Today that natural gas and electricity prices have jumped sharply, tightening the squeeze on working families. According to NEADA, about 21 million households — roughly one in six — are already behind on energy bills. Household energy costs have climbed by about 31% since late 2023.
“The situation is really grim regarding (rising energy) pricing and availability of LIHEAP funds,” Wolfe said. “Even if all goes well now, the earliest we will see funds will be December.”
At the heart of this crisis is a familiar story — Washington’s inability to prioritize common-sense governance over political posturing. Families who work hard, pay taxes, and play by the rules shouldn’t be collateral damage in a funding standoff. Yet once again, America’s most vulnerable are left holding the bill while lawmakers debate ideology.
As cold weather sets in, the question remains: will Congress act before the heat goes out — or will partisan gridlock leave Main Street Americans literally out in the cold?
We all know that legally they can’t shut off the heat/electric. I’m curious if the lady is only getting $650, that’s basically just rent. She must be getting some heavy benefits. Even though they can’t shut it off, this will add up over the months. Electric has gone up that much and I can’t believe all the extras they’re charging! Just basic feed is $6 per customer, I live in a building with 7 apartments so they get $42 for running the feed to one building. Doesn’t sound right,does it? Now think about a larger complex? Seems like they’re taking advantage, doesn’t it? All I can say is that I worked for about 46+ years and receive enough to get by. Never married,no spouse SS. You can just imagine how tight it can get with car repairs or medical bills. There’s food banks and maybe a friend that could share a meal if it gets that bad.