The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has postponed the opening of its Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) until Dec. 3, a month later than originally scheduled, due to the federal government shutdown.

Pennsylvania has not yet received its approximately $215 million 2025-26 share for the federally funded program, and the state cannot “backfill” those costs, according to a DHS news release.

The program pays energy providers directly on behalf of approximately 300,000 Pennsylvania families per year who need help heating their homes, according to the news release.

DHS will continue to process preseason applications it has already received, but won’t begin accepting new applications until the shutdown ends — and won’t make any payments until Pennsylvania receives its LIHEAP funding, according to the news release.

The postponement has created “a health and safety issue for a lot of families,” said Wendy Melius, executive director of the Center for Community Action. “It’s a real mess.”

People who need immediate heating help can call 211 or visit pa-navigate.org/, according to a recorded message that plays for callers to the DHS LIHEAP number at the Blair County Assistance Office, which handles the program for local residents.

Those who need help with heating can also contact local churches, Melius suggested.

Churches might be able to help with fuel purchases or perhaps the purchase of electric heaters — although those require caution to ensure against overloading of electrical components and to avoid causing fires — and they also boost electric bills, Melius said.

Pennsylvania prohibits regulated electric and gas related utilities from shutting off service to customers who are below 250% of the federal poverty level between Dec. 1 and March 31, according to the news release.

That winter utility shutoff moratorium, however, doesn’t cancel customers’ home heating bills, which means the LIHEAP funding is critical for helping needy families make ends meet eventually, according to the news release.

The LIHEAP program also provides assistance for furnace repairs or replacements for qualifying families, Melius said.

“Please be patient and respectful to our staff,” the message on the Assistance Office line states.