Here & Now Anytime Home heating assistance in limbo as cold snap sweeps U.S.
Nov 10, 2025
Join Sonia Carley, an energy policy expert, as she discusses the critical impacts of the LIHEAP program shutdown on home heating assistance amidst a freezing cold snap. Former pardon attorney Liz Oyer weighs in on President Trump's controversial pardons, exploring their political ramifications and limits. Finally, Shamara Wiley-Alhassan delves into the cultural importance of dreadlocks in the Rastafari tradition, highlighting how they represent a reclaiming of identity and the longstanding trauma from forced shaving.
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LIHEAP Reaches Only A Fraction Of Need
- LIHEAP serves about 6 million households but reaches only ~20% of those eligible, leaving large unmet need.
- Sonia Carley highlights rising energy insecurity amid a $4–5 billion program that lacks sufficient coverage.
Use Moratoria To Prevent Winter Shutoffs
- States and utilities can impose temporary moratoria or use leftover funds to prevent winter disconnections.
- Advocates are calling for broader, even national, moratoria until LIHEAP funds arrive.
Dangerous Coping When Energy Aid Fails
- Households cut essentials or use dangerous heating practices when energy aid is delayed.
- Carley describes risky adaptations like space heaters, burning trash, or using ovens for heat.