For Knox County residents who need help paying their heating bills this winter, help is available through a local nonprofit organization.
The Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission's Emergency HEAP Winter Crisis Program began Nov. 1, according to a news release.
"Winter Crisis Program is a federally funded program administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency, Office of Community Assistance that provides financial assistance to low-income households that are threatened with disconnection from their heating source, or have already had service disconnected," the news release said.
If you qualify, you can received financial assistance one during the heating season of up to $175 for customers of utilities regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO), the news release said. Customers of non-PUCO utilities may receive up to $750. Income eligible bulk fuel customers could be eligible up to $550 for wood or coal, and up to $900 is available for bulk fuel propane/bottled gas and fuel oil customers, the organization said.
You can also receive up to $500 for furnace repairs.
For a family of four applying for assistance, annual income must be at or below $46,375 to qualify.
If your utility is regulated by PUCO, you are encouraged to sign up for the Percentage of Income Payment Plus Plan (PIPP Plus) or an alternate budget payment plan, according to the news release.
For more information on the HEAP program, call 397-0378.
"Due to COVID19 restrictions, and the safety and well-being of community and staff, the application process must be started via phone only, no in-person applicants," the news release said.
The Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action Commission serves residents of Knox, Holmes, Coshocton and Ashland counties.
"We strive to make living in these communities better, by providing services to low income people and the working poor," the organization said on its website. "We also work at identifying gaps in services and address those gaps."
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