LANSING, Mich. (WNDU) - As colder weather moves in, Michigan’s main source of heating assistance is facing a roadblock.

The program is called the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

During the shutdown, the state is now relying on leftover money from last year, and officials say that could run out before winter even begins.

Cassandra Lovejoy from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association says when temperatures get below freezing, not having heat becomes a matter of life and death.

“We’re worried about households that need heat now and don’t have it,” Lovejoy said. “If you don’t have heat in your home and it gets below freezing, that’s life-threatening, especially for households with elderly members or folks who are disabled, not having heat can be deadly.”

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