New Hampshire Heating Aid to Continue Uninterrupted Amid Government Shutdown

As colder weather returns to New Hampshire, state officials said the state's heating assistance programs will continue despite the ongoing federal government shutdown.

New Hampshire typically receives tens of millions of dollars in federal heating aid each year, with last year's total exceeding $32 million. This amount supported approximately 28,000 households with an average award of $1,000 per household, according to a New Hampshire Public Radio report.

Officials typically expect federal funding allocations to be received by Dec. 1, although it's unclear what will happen this year due to the government shutdown.

Chris Ellms, deputy director of the New Hampshire Department of Energy, said that despite the uncertainty, the state's programs are operating normally.

“Households in need of assistance should reach out to their local Community Action Agency to learn more about applying,” he said. “As the shutdown continues, our team is monitoring the situation and working closely with the governor's office.”

According to New Hampshire Public Radio, the state's community action agencies, which administer heating assistance programs, are accepting applications. These programs can help individuals with emergency fuel deliveries or delays in shut-offs, as well as with heating fuel costs.

Terra Rogers, director of energy services programs at Southwestern Community Services, which covers the Monadnock region, told New Hampshire Public Radio that the most significant challenge this year is related to a new software system. A delay in the rollout has left agencies behind in processing heating assistance applications.

Rogers asked the public to limit calls to the CAP offices to allow staff to process applications as quickly as possible.