MaineHousing announced Wednesday that it will use about $2 million in carryover funds to make an initial round of home heating assistance payments.

The state of Maine usually receives federal funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, by this time of year. But because the government is shut down, the state hasn't been able to pay fuel providers on behalf of eligible Maine households.

Now, state officials said they will use $2.2 million originally intended for weatherization projects to provide heating assistance benefits to some 4,000 Maine households who signed up for HEAP benefits in August and September.

The state said those who sign up early for HEAP benefits are typically older Mainers or families with young children. Over the next few weeks, those househol

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