More than 4,000 of Maine’s most vulnerable households will receive early fuel assistance due to the release of nearly $4 million in federal funding leftover from the 2025-2026 heating season.
MaineHousing has issued Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, payments to fuel vendors amid expectations of a challenging winter heating season and record-high heating oil prices.
The funding will help about 4,400 of Maine’s most vulnerable households receive fuel before cold weather sets in. Priority households include those with older adults, young children and people with disabilities.
Maine is waiting for its annual federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which usually arrives in late October or early November. Once the funding is available, MaineHousing will pay fuel vendors serving approved applicants.
The state said HEAP, Maine’s largest component of LIHEAP, helps approximately 40,000 households pay a portion of their home energy costs each season.
So far, Congress has flat funded the program for next year.
Monica Grady, senior director of Community Services for Kennebec Valley Community Action Program, said a lot of people will still be turned away.
“For the state of Maine flat funding is not enough to cover everyone that applies. We typically serve 35,000 people statewide a year, but we’re now getting 75,000 applications. That’s a big difference. That tells you what’s going on in this state,” Grady said.
Income eligibility for LIHEAP changed this month from about $70,000 a year to just over $73,000 a year for a family of four.
Maine’s congressional delegation and Gov. Janet Mills have asked for increased LIHEAP funding. U.S. Sen. Angus King’s office said the program is awaiting funding from the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Maine receives approximately $38 million to $42 million annually through LIHEAP, with about $26 million going to direct heating assistance distributed statewide through community action agencies. The remaining funds are used for energy-related programs, including central heating improvements, emergency fuel intervention and weatherization.
“We encourage anyone who expects to struggle with heating costs this winter to apply for HEAP now,” said Dan Brennan, director of MaineHousing. “Do not wait until you are facing a heating crisis or emergency. If you have not started the application process, now is the time.”
To review eligibility information and begin the application process, visit mainehousing.org. Mainers may also contact their local community action agency or call 211 for help.
This story appears through a media partnership with Maine Public.