Albany, NY (WIBX) - Low-income families could face a tough year ahead as the struggle continues to get the government to fund the Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Governor David Paterson is fighting to get the same level of funding at 5.1 billion dollars for 2011, as it was in 2010.

With lack of funding, HEAP will discontinue servies to low-income families in January if congress does not provide funding to the program. President Obama could withhold $590 billion dollars in contingency funding making it more difficult to help families in need.

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