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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.

Winter Crisis Program Helps Manage Energy Costs

2/27/2020

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 four the 30 days income must be at or below $3,775.21 or 45,062.50 annually. Individuals interested in receiving Winter Crisis Assistance must have a face-to-face interview. To schedule an appointment you can call CAC’s automated appointment system at 877-298-4307, or go online to www.capappointment.com. This system will walk you through making an appointment. You MUST accept your appointment date and time, and get a confirmation number for the appointment making process to be completed. You must bring the confirmation number 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 (Walk-in sites see the first 7 households) at the following satellite centers throughout Portage County:

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.
The Atwater Townhall (1219 State Route 183, Atwater) on the first and third Thursday of each month from 9-11.
The Renaissance Family Center (9005 Wilverne Ave, Windham) on Fridays from 9-11am.

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 four the 30 days income must be at or below $3,218.75 or $38,625 annually.
To learn more about the programs call CAC at 330-297-1456 and press 0 for the receptionist. Customers must be income eligible, and provide all necessary documentation to be approved for assistance.
The Winter Crisis Program ends March 31st, 2020.

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

1/15/2020

The Community Action Council of Portage County’s Winter Crisis Program (Emergency HEAP) began on November 1st, 2019 and has assisted households with utility assistance. CAC is continuing to make appointments and have walk-in days at multiple locations around Portage County for households in need of assistance. The Winter Crisis Program will continue through March 31st, 2020.
To schedule an appointment to meet with an Intake Specialist please call CAC on our automated appointment line at 1-877-298-4307 or go online to capappointments.com. Appointments are scheduled up to 3 weeks in advance and must be made through the Agency’s 24 hour Interactive Voice Response scheduling system. When your appointment is made, you will receive a confirmation number, which you are required to bring with you to your appointment. If you did not get a confirmation number, your appointment was not completed. CAC continues to offer walk-ins at its Ravenna office every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Doors open at 8am and you must be signed in by 10am and be one of the first 24 households in order to be seen.
CAC continues to offer walk-ins at HEAP Satellite locations around Portage County, including the Kent Free Library on Mondays, Portage County Senior Center on Wednesdays, Windham Renaissance Family Center on Fridays, Atwater Town Hall every first and third Thursday, and the Garrettsville Public Library every first and third Tuesday of the month. For additional information about satellite locations and times, you can call us at 330-297-1456 extension 267.
Households at or below 175% of the poverty level should be eligible for emergency assistance. Customers must be income eligible, and provide documentation of household income, utility bills, citizenship, and disability if applicable to be assessed for assistance. A variety of benefits are available through HEAP depending on each family’s needs, and CAC offers other programs that can help reduce heating costs. 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 the phone numbers above or by e-mail at info@cacportage.net.

Emergency Heating Assistance Available Through March 31st, 2020

12/2/2019

Community Action Council of Portage County is currently offering emergency assistance for utility bills through the Home Energy Assistance Program’s Winter Crisis Program (WCP).

The Winter Crisis Program assists low-income households that have been disconnected (or have a pending disconnection notice), need to establish new service, need to pay to transfer service, or have 25% (or less) of bulk fuel supply remaining stay warm this winter.

WCP requires a face to face interview during a walk-in, or appointment. You must bring all required documentation, as stated below, in order to have your application processed for a benefit. If you would like additional information, please contact Portage County Community Action Council at 330-297-1456. To make an appointment call 877-298-4307 or go to www.capappointments.com.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), a non-emergency heating assistance program is also available to help with home energy bills. HEAP helps Ohioans at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines with a one-time credit on their heating bill.

Applied directly to the customer’s utility or bulk fuel bill, the benefit can help manage heating costs. This is not an emergency program. Customers who are threatened with disconnection, or have been disconnected from their utility service, may also be eligible for the HEAP Winter Crisis Program, which started on November 1, 2019.

Ohioans can visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov to apply online, or download a copy of the application. You can also apply for this program at our office during an appointment or walk-in. When applying for all programs, individuals need to have copies of the following documents:

Most recent utility bills.
A list of all household members (including birth dates and Social Security numbers).
Proof of income for the past 30 days for all household members (12 months for certain income types).
Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members.
Proof of disability (if applicable).

HEAP benefits are applied to an individual’s energy bill after January 1st.

Applications for both programs must be received by March 31, 2020. For more information on HEAP, visit energyhelp.ohio.gov or call (800) 282-0880. Hearing-impaired customers can dial 711 for assistance.

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

Winter Crisis Program Helps Manage Energy Costs

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

Emergency Heating Assistance Available Through March 31st, 2020

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