HOWARD COUNTY, Md. — It's a sigh of relief for non-profits that the government shutdown is over, but not all is rosy when it comes to their federally-funded programs in the longterm.
A blustery week reminds April Bridges that winter is fast-approaching. She's holding out hope her power won't get shut off.
“No lights, no food, no nothing. That will be detrimental,” she said.
Uncertain future for energy assistance program
As a single mother of seven, she once held down three jobs to make ends meet. But, she lost her job during COVID and in 2023, another blow— an injury that's once again left her out of work as a bus driver for special needs kids.
“I miss it a lot and hopefully I can get back to it soon,” she said.
Bridges is one of 1,000 in Howard County who have applied for energy assistance and are waiting to hear back, according to the Community Action Council.
The program is funded by the federal government's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP.
The same one that helped Bridges keep the lights on, when her BGE bill first doubled a few years ago.
“The rates spiked and it seemed like overnight,” she said. “Definitely got overwhelming.”
Bridges received a lump sum of about $1,500— just enough to get back on track.
“It's tough, once you get knocked off it takes awhile to get back to that pace,” she said.
CAC president Tracy Broccolino says the program has been hit by a perfect storm, with the money not going as far from a double whammy — higher costs and a greater pool of applicants.
"Categorical eligibility was introduced in 2024, and that made it possible for folks who receive benefits like SNAP or temporary cash assistance to receive automatic eligibility for energy assistance," Broccolino explained.
And though the state stepped in as a stop-gap during the shutdown, down the line it's less clear if this assistance will even be available in years to come.
“Taking a look at the long-term plans of the current administration is whether or not LIHEAP will be sustainable in the future,” Broccolino explained.
“That would be awful if they cut that off. It seems like Howard County is like the most expensive county to live in in this area and with things going up and things getting worse, no that wouldn't be good at all,” Bridges said.
Broccolino hoped leaders could come together, and some of them have already joined the fight.
Congressman Kweisi Mfume joined a letter with Representatives Raul Ruiz and Lori Trahan, urging officials to release the highest amount of LIHEAP funding available under the November 2025 Continuing Resolution.
More than 103,000 Maryland households rely on the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), including over 37,000 in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. For my constituents, this program is not a luxury - it is the difference between a paid utilities bill or a freezing home. If these funds don't come through, vulnerable families across the country will be forced to choose between putting food on the table and keeping the lights on.
With so many of these families just having gone through the stressful experience of not knowing when their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cards would be recharged, it is unacceptable to leave them guessing as to whether the heat will still be on come the holiday season. The beneficiaries of this program, many of them seniors and veterans, cannot be left to shiver in the cold this winter.
