BOSTON (SHNS) - With higher utility bills in the forecast, Massachusetts renters and homeowners can now apply for state financial support to help cover part of their costs during the colder winter months, state housing officials announced Wednesday. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities said it opened applications Tuesday for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), which will run from Nov. 1 through April 30, 2025. Grants do not need to be repaid, and they can cover all heating sources, including oil, electricity, natural gas, propane, kerosene, wood and coal, officials said. Payments are made directly to residents' heating companies. Program eligibility is based on factors including household size and income, which cannot exceed 60 percent of the state median income. The maximum income for a family of four, for example, is $94,608. "No resident should have to worry about heating their home during the winter," Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus said. "With high costs continuing to strain household finances, the Home Energy Assistance Program is more critical than ever. We urge anyone in need of heating assistance to explore their eligibility by applying online or visiting the nearest administering agency."