MARSHALL — As the federal shutdown continues, it could leave thousands of Minnesotans without assistance for winter heating costs and repairs.

It’s something that’s affecting households in southwest Minnesota, said United Community Action Partnership Executive Director Deb Brandt.

“Families are very concerned,” Brandt said.

Area residents who applied for assistance might not get help until December at least, she said.

As of this week, UCAP had received more than 3,700 applications for home energy assistance in their nine-county service area, Brandt said.

In spite of the shutdown, the Minnesota Department of Commerce said this week it is still urging eligible households to apply for energy assistance through its federally-funded Energy Assistance Program. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides financial assistance to help reduce the cost of home energy bills, weatherization, or energy-related repairs.

Normally, Minnesota would receive its annual LIHEAP funding from the federal government by early November, the Department of Commerce said in a news release. However, the state has not yet received new funds for the 2025-26 winter season. That means payments to help with heating bills and furnace repairs will be delayed.

“We are deeply concerned about the potential impact of this funding gap on Minnesota households,” said state Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold. “Every winter, LIHEAP helps keep thousands of families safe and warm. Without this assistance, our most vulnerable residents — including seniors, young children, and people with disabilities — could face serious risks.”

Brandt said each year, the state gets to carry over about 10% of its LIHEAP award to process applications for assistance. At this point, UCAP is also still accepting applications for energy assistance, she said.

Lissa Pawlisch, an assistant commissioner with the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Division of Energy Resources, said the Department of Commerce was working to find ways to help people affected by the loss of LIHEAP assistance.

“We are working with utility companies to protect Minnesotans from LIHEAP payment delays,” Pawlisch said in a news release. “For example, Xcel Energy and Minnesota Power have committed to keep LIHEAP-eligible customers connected who might otherwise have been disconnected for non-payment.”

The Department of Commerce said it is still accepting and processing applications for energy assistance. More than 75,000 households across Minnesota have already applied.

“We’re ready to move quickly once federal funds come through,” Arnold said. “In the meantime, the most important step Minnesotans can take is to apply now, so they’re in the system and ready to receive help the moment it’s available.”

Last year, Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program assisted more than 125,000 households across the state, the Department of Commerce said. More than two-thirds of the assistance went to people living in Greater Minnesota. Nearly 75% of the households served included seniors, people with disabilities, or children younger than six.

Brandt said UCAP and other service providers were concerned about the impact the federal shutdown was having. Funding delays didn’t just affect energy assistance. At the same time, she said, “We are seeing a rise of new individuals and families coming to our food shelves,” as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits come to a halt.