The Ohio Department of Development and your Area Agency on Aging will help income-eligible Ohioans stay cool during the hot summer months. The Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program provides eligible Ohioans assistance paying an electric bill or assistance paying for central air conditioning repairs. The program runs from July 1 to Sept. 30.
To apply for the program, clients are required to schedule an appointment with Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action for Ashland and Knox Counties by calling 419-281-4327 for Ashland County and 740-397-0378 for Knox County.
Clients need to bring copies of the following documents to their appointment:
· Copies of their most recent energy bills.
· A list of all household members and proof of income for the last 30 days or 12 months for each member.
· Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members.
· Proof of disability (if applicable).
· Physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health (if there isn’t a household member over the age of 60).
The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (AAA) is a nonprofit agency that serves Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca and Wyandot Counties. We have programs for all ages and income levels; however, we specialize in services and programs for older adults and anyone with disabilities. If you need assistance applying for programs such as HEAP, Medicare, Medicaid, Extra Help or other programs, please contact our office at 419-524-4144 or 800-860-5799.
The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households with an older household member (60 years or older) who can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for their health, have a disconnect notice, have been shut off, are trying to establish new service on their electric bill or require air conditioning. Conditions can include such things as lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or asthma.
Eligible households can receive up to $500 if they are a customer of a regulated utility, or $800 if they are a customer of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The assistance is applied to their utility bill, to purchase an air conditioning unit or fan or pay for central air conditioning repairs. Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance. For a family of four, the annual income must be at or below $52,500.00.
Also, Ohioans enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) program who meet the above criteria may be eligible for assistance toward their default PIPP payment, first PIPP payment, central air conditioning repairs or may receive an air conditioning unit and/or fan.
For more information about the features of the Summer Crisis Program and what is needed to apply, contact the Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland Community Action at 419-281-4327 for Ashland and 740-397-0378 for Knox. To be connected to your local Energy Assistance provider, visit energyhelp.ohio.gov or call (800) 282-0880.
The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio’s people, places and businesses. Learn more about our work at development.ohio.gov.
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