ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Appointments for heating bill assistance will open a month later than usual in some metro Atlanta counties due to the now-ended government shutdown’s ripple effects.
Seniors and those homebound due to medical issues can usually apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) on the first workday of December, with the rest of the population eligible in January. But this year, appointments will open on Jan. 2 for the special groups and Feb. 2 for the general public in DeKalb, Gwinnett, Rockdale, Newton and Walton counties.
In a statement, the Decatur-based Partnership for Community Action, which handles LIHEAP applications in the five counties, said agencies are still awaiting final funding and guidance from federal partners, leading to the delay…