As October arrived with cooler temperatures, more than $373 million in home heating aid was made available for low- and middle-income New Yorkers who need assistance during the upcoming winter season. The Sun Community News reports applications opened Oct. 1 for the Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as HEAP, which is overseen by the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and provides federal funding to assist homeowners and renters with their heating costs during the cold weather months.