Community Action Council of Portage County, Inc.

SUMMER CRISIS PROGRAM

7/11/2019

Summer electric assistance available for low-income households…
Help is available for eligible Ohioans trying to cope with the summer heat.  Under the Summer Crisis Program,  consumers of regulated utilities may qualify to receive a benefit amount up to $300 while customers of unregulated utilities can receive a benefit of up to $500. These benefits can be used to help pay an electric bill or central air conditioning repair. Households may also be eligible for a window air conditioning unit and/or fan(s).

To be eligible for assistance, households must have a gross annual income that is at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. In addition to the income guidelines, applicants must also either:  Have a household member who is 60 years of age or older; or has a medical necessity verified by physician documentation.

Participants in the PIPP Plus year-round payment program will not be eligible for Summer Crisis Program monetary assistance. However, PIPP Plus clients may be eligible to receive a fan or air conditioner if they have not received one from the program in the past three years.

The program is available from July 1 until August 31. To make an appointment, call our toll free appointment line 1-877-298-4307 starting on June 24, 2019.

Walk-ins will be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays starting at 8:00am. For more details about the program, and required documentation, contact us at 330-297-1456.

Documents needed for assistance:

Social Security Numbers for EVERYONE in household
Proof of Citizenship for ALL household members
All pages of most recent Ohio Edison bill
Most recent heating bill
If 60 years of age or older, proof of age required
If under 60 years of age, medical form required
Proof of household income for ALL household members age 18 and over for the past 30 days is required
Proof of disability if applicable

CAC HEATING PROGRAM WILL END

3/12/2019

Emergency HEAP Program will end on March 31

The Community Action Council of Portage County has announced that the last day of the Winter Crisis Program (Emergency HEAP) will be March 29, 2019.   Any individual or family who has a disconnection notice or has less than a 10-day supply of a bulk fuel, and is at or below 175% of the poverty guidelines, that has not applied for Emergency HEAP since November 1, 2018 may be eligible. Applicants will need to provide utility bills, proof of income, and proof of citizenship. 0ther documentation may be required based on each household’s individual circumstances.

Customers of Dominion East Ohio Gas or Ohio Edison can receive up to $175 to restore or maintain utility service. Users of fuel oil and propane may receive a benefit of up to $750.00, and coal or wood users may receive up to $450.00.

There are still appointments available for this season’s emergency program. Walk-ins are still available at, the Kent Free Library on Mondays March 11th, 18th and 25th; Garrettsville Library on Tuesday March 19th; Portage County Senior Center on Wednesdays March 13th, 20th, and 27th; Atwater Townhall on Thursdays March 7th, and 21st; and the Windham Family Renaissance Center on Fridays March 8th, 15th and 22nd. Walk-ins at our main office (1036 West Main St) are on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings starting at 8:00 am. The first 24 households with all required documentation will be seen, last walk-in must be signed in by 11:00am. If you would like to make an appointment call 1-877-298-4307. If you need additional information call 330-297-1456 and press 0 for the receptionist.

Applicants can continue to enroll in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP+), as well as the 2017 Regular HEAP Program through June 30, 2018.
We encourage customers to pay close attention to utility bill messages. It will let you know when you must re-verify for the PIPP+ program. You must re-verify before the date stated on your bills to prevent being dropped from the PIPP+ program. Once you are dropped, it is sometimes very difficult to get re-enrolled, and charges are generally It is also imperative that PIPP+ customers are paying the PIPP amount in full and on time each month in order to avoid PIPP default.
To enroll or re-verify for the PIPP+ program you must have an appointment or come for a walk-in. If you would like to make an appointment, or need additional information call 330-297-1456 and press option 1.

Winter Crisis Program Helps Manage Energy Costs

2/14/2019

The Community Action Council of Portage County wants to remind residents that the Winter Crisis Program and the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus can help manage energy costs during these cold winter days.

The Winter Crisis Program, a component of the Home Energy Assistance Program, provides assistance to eligible households that are threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected or have less than a 10-day supply of bulk fuel. The gross income of eligible households must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of 4 the annual income must be at or below $43,925. Individuals interested in receiving Winter Crisis Assistance must have a face-to-face interview. To schedule an appointment you can call CAC at 330-297-1456 and choose option 1. The automated appointment system will walk you through making an appointment. You MUST get a confirmation number and bring it with you to your appointment.

CAC also offers walk-ins for those who are unable to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are seen on a first come first serve basis. Walk-ins at our Ravenna office are on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. The doors open at 8:00am, and we see the first 24 clients. We also have walk-ins at Kent Free Library( 312 W Main St, Kent) on Mondays from 10-12, The Garrettsville Library(10482 South St, Garrettsville) on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 10-12, The Portage County Senior Center (705 Oakwood, Ravenna) on Wednesdays from 9-11 am, The Atwater Townhall(1219 State Route 183, Atwater) on the first and third Thursday of each month from 9-11, and in Windham at the Renaissance Family Center (9005 Wilverne Ave) on Fridays from 9-11am. Walk-in sites see the first 7 households.

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) allows eligible customers to pay their utility bills based on a percentage of the household income. This makes monthly payments more affordable year-round. To be eligible for the PIPP Plus program, a customer must have electric or gas service that is regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), and must have a total household income which is at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. For a family of 4 the total annual income must be at or below $37,650.

To learn more about the programs call CAC at 330-297-1456 and press 0 for the receptionist, or 1 to make an appointment. Customers must be income eligible, and provide all necessary documentation to be approved for assistance.

The Winter Crisis Program ends March 31st, 2019.

CAC CONTINUES TO OFFER HOME HEATING ASSISTANCE Residents can get funding for fuel

12/21/2018

The Community Action Council of Portage County’s Winter Crisis Program (Emergency HEAP) began on November 1st, 2018 and will continue thru March 31st, 2019. CAC is continuing to make appointments and have walk-in days at multiple locations around Portage County for households in need of assistance. Since the program began in November,CAC has provided a variety of utility assistance to over 4.000 families.
To schedule an appointment to meet with an Intake Specialist please call CAC at our toll free number at 1-877-298-4307 or locally at 330-297-1456 and choose option 1 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are scheduled up to 3 weeks in advance and must be made through the Agency’s 24 hour Interactive Voice Response scheduling system. CAC continues to offer walk-ins at its Ravenna office every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 8:00 am and 11:00 am, and will see the first 24 households. Eligibility for the Winter Crisis Program is based on 175% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines, or roughly $43,925/year for a family of 4 or $3,660.42/month. Customers must also participate in a payment plan if requesting assistance with a Dominion East Ohio Gas or Ohio Edison utility bill, such as PIPP PLUS or another utility sponsored plan. CAC can assist families in applying for PIPP Plus during the appointment or an application can be submitted directly to Columbus.
CAC is also operating additional satellite offices throughout Portage County. HEAP Satellite centers are at The Kent Free Library (1115 Franklin Avenue in Kent); The Renaissance Family Center (9005 Wilverne Drive in Windham); The Garrettsville Library (10482 South St. in Garrettsville); The Portage County Senior Center (705 Oakwood St. in Ravenna); and the Atwater Town Hall (1219 State Route 183 in Atwater). Please call 330-297-1456 and choose option 1 for more information about satellite days and times.
It is important that customers bring all of the necessary documentation with them for both walk-ins and appointments. This includes the most recent 30 days of income for all household members 18 and older, most recent utility bills, proof of citizenship for all household members, social security cards and proof of disability if disabled. All households have their own unique circumstances, and may be asked for additional documentation at the time of the face to face interview.
A variety of benefits are available through HEAP depending on each family’s needs, and CAC has other programs that may help reduce heating costs for Portage County families as well. CAC is located at 1036 West Main in Ravenna, Ohio and is open Monday thru Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. For additional information, please contact CAC at 330-297-1456 or by e-mail at info@cacportage.net.

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SUMMER CRISIS PROGRAM

CAC HEATING PROGRAM WILL END

Winter Crisis Program Helps Manage Energy Costs

CAC CONTINUES TO OFFER HOME HEATING ASSISTANCE Residents can get funding for fuel

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