All Categories

Summer Cooling Program offered at Community Action Council

7/16/2020

The Community Action Council of Portage County is administering the Summer Crisis Cooling Program from July 1st through September 30th.

This program can provide some assistance on electric bills, and families may be eligible for a window air conditioning unit and/or fans.

To qualify for assistance, households must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines, and meet one of the following criteria:

An electric bill that is in danger of disconnect, OFF, needs new service established or transfer of service.
An electric bill with PIPP default, or wants to enroll on PIPP
A household member that is 60 or older.
A statement signed by a physician that states a household member has a medical condition that would be improved by continued electric service or air conditioning.
In order to be eligible for an air conditioner or fan(s), you may not have received one through HEAP for the past 3 program years (2017, 2018, 2019).

To determine eligibility, the following documents are needed:

Most recent 30 days of household income (unless self-employed or seasonal, then 12 months of income is required). km
most recent heating bill
most recent electric bill
social security numbers for all household members
proof of citizenship (can be birth certificate or social security card)
proof of age if 60 or older
medical form if under 60 years old
proof of disability if applicable
If claiming zero household income your specific situation will require other documents, and tax transcripts for all adult household members may be needed.
Individual circumstances sometimes require additional documentation.

Portage County residents can schedule an appointment by calling our toll free appointment line 234-703-4303

Call-ins will be at via phone interview on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8:00am to 10:00am.

If you have questions, you can call CAC at 330-297-1456, and press option 1 for HEAP.

HEAP Summer Crisis Program Starts July 1

6/26/2020

HEAP Summer Crisis Program Starts July 1

Beginning July 1, the Ohio Development Services Agency and Community Action Council of Portage County (CAC) will help income-eligible Ohioans maintain their utility service through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program. The program helps eligible Ohioans pay an electric bill, purchase an air conditioning unit or fan, or pay for central air conditioning repairs. This year, the program will run from July 1 until September 30, 2020.

“This year, we’ve extended the length of the program and expanded eligibility requirements so we can help more Ohioans during this health crisis,” Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency said. “We’re working with Community Action Council of Portage County every day to help Ohioans in need.”

In 2019 more than 200 families in Portage County were assisted through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program.

The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households with an older household member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member's health. Examples of conditions can include lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, asthma, etc. This year, households that were diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020, have a disconnect notice, have been shut off, or are trying to establish new service on their electric bill are also eligible for assistance.

Ohioans can visit energyhelp.ohio.gov to start their application prior to their required appointment. This year appointments can be held over the phone or in person at CAC of Portage County. To schedule an appointment call, 234-703-4303 or online at https://app.capappointments.com.

Eligible households can receive up to $500 if they are a customer of a regulated utility. The assistance is applied to their utility bill, or 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 $45,850.00.

Also new this year, Ohioans enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus Program (PIPP) who meet the above criteria may be eligible for assistance towards 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 locally and what is needed to apply, call us at 330-297-1456 press 1 then 1. Additional information can also be found at www.cacportage.net , www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or by calling (800) 282-0880.

You can still apply for heating assistance. HEAP Applications accepted until June 1st

5/20/2020

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) administered locally by the Community Action Council of Portage County (CAC), is an annual program that provides a direct credit to an eligible household’s heating bill. It is designed to assist low income households meet the rising costs of home heating. HEAP is not an emergency program and is not designed to help with disconnect notices. Applications for Regular HEAP, are still being accepted for the 2019-2020 program year through June 1st. The 2020-2021 program year will start on July 1st.

Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus(PIPP+) also administered locally by CAC is designed to help eligible households manage their energy bills. Households can continue to enroll in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP+) year round.

CAC also cautions current Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP+) customers to pay close attention to utility bill messages. Those messages let you know when you must re-verify for the PIPP+ program. You must re-verify every 12 months, or when the household income changes in any way, to prevent being removed from the PIPP+ program. If your utility bill is removed from PIPP, it is sometimes very difficult to get re-enrolled. 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 apply for HEAP and/or PIPP+, residents can schedule a phone appointment by calling 1-800-298-4307 or go online to www.capappointments.com . You can also apply online at www.energyhelp.ohio.gov. Each household is required to provide 30 days (in some situations 12 months) proof of income for anyone in the home who is 18 years of age or older, proof of citizenship status for all household members, current utility bills, all household member’s social security numbers, proof of disability if applicable, and meet income guidelines. Customers may be asked to provide additional documentation based on individual situations.

Customers can call CAC at 330-297-1456 Monday through Thursday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, and choose option 1 to speak to someone. CAC is located at 1036 West Main Street in Ravenna.

COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL OF PORTAGE COUNTY OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE You can still apply for heating assistance.

3/18/2020

The Community Action Council of Portage County (CAC) cares about the health and wellness of our clients, staff and the community. To ensure that we are taking the necessary precautions regarding novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we have changed the procedures normally used to process HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program), PIPP (Percentage of Income Payment Plan) and WCP (Winter Crisis Program) applications for assistance. Local regulated utilities (Dominion and Ohio Edison) have indicated that they will not be disconnecting customers until further notice. However, you are strongly encouraged to continue to apply for assistance to participate in our programs since that policy could change at any time.   We will provide bulk fuel customers with assistance as well under the policies described below.
If you have a scheduled appointment, an Intake Specialist will call you on the date and time of your appointment using the phone number you provided to begin the application process. To schedule an appointment call 877-298-4307 or online at www.capappointments.com

If you do not have an appointment, call on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 am at 330.297.1456, ext. 0. Your contact information will be taken, and an Intake Specialist will call you back to complete a telephone interview.

This adjustment to policy does not change the federal requirement for collection of all required documentation. Applications will only be considered complete when all required documentation has been provided. If we require you to submit documentation, you may mail it to CAC, e-mail it (info@cacportage.net or to a specific intake worker e-mail address), or drop it off at our HEAP offices at 1036 West Main, Ravenna, OH in the drop box provided located on the west side of the building. Envelopes will be available.

Any household that has a disconnection notice or less than a 10-day supply of bulk fuel, meets income guidelines, and has not received Emergency HEAP since November 1, 2019 may be eligible for emergency utility assistance. Applicants will need to provide utility bills, proof of income, and proof of citizenship. Other documentation may be required based on each household’s individual circumstances.

As of now, the HEAP Winter Crisis Program will end on March 31, 2020.

<<Previous

Summer Cooling Program offered at Community Action Council

HEAP Summer Crisis Program Starts July 1

You can still apply for heating assistance. HEAP Applications accepted until June 1st

COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL OF PORTAGE COUNTY OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE You can still apply for heating assistance.

Archives

Categories