With temperatures dropping, Rhode Island Housing has announced its Heating Assistance Program to help families manage their heating costs throughout the winter months. This innovative program, first introduced by the agency in 2005, enables Rhode Island Housing’s FirstHomes 100 and 100+ customers to defer $200 per month from their mortgage payments for up to four months this winter – December, January, February, and/or March – and then make up the difference by paying an extra $100 per month for the eight months after the heating season.

The program is free and will not increase the interest customers pay on their mortgages. Rhode Island Housing will be sending out details of the program to almost 7,000 mortgage customers this month.

In its recently released Winter Fuels Outlook report, the U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts higher prices this winter for homes that heat with natural gas and electricity. Propane and home heating oil prices are expected to be lower than last winter. The forecast temperatures are much warmer than last winter with the Northeast about 11 percent warmer. Expenditures are expected to be lower this winter (Oct. 1–March 31) unless there is a repeat of last winter’s cold weather.

Rhode Island Housing customers can contact the agency’s Loan Servicing Division at 1-800-854-1180 with any questions relating to this program.