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As temperatures drop, more than 1.5 million New Yorkers are heading into winter without the lifeline that keeps their homes safe and warm. The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance has announced that the start of applications for the Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, is delayed until further notice. The delay comes as the federal shutdown stalls funding for essential safety net programs like HEAP, Head Start and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

HEAP is a vital program that helps households afford heating costs during the winter.

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Without it, what are low-income New Yorkers........

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