STATEWIDE -- The Maine State Housing Authority has announced the federal government shutdown has caused a delay in the start of its emergency heating assistance program, which was set to begin on Nov. 1st. This delay could impact thousands of families as we approach the winter months.

The government shutdown is currently delaying the release of federal emergency heating assistance funds that supported more than 7,000 Maine households last year.

"It's not something that's going to happen even if we were to re-open today, it's not something we would have resolved right away," said Erik Jorgensen, Senior Director of Government Relations & Communications, MaineHousing.

The Energy Crisis Intervention Program is a component of the federal Heating Energy Assistance Program, also known as HEAP

See Full Page