​Winter Crisis Program (WCP) runs through March 31, 2022
If you are struggling with your utility bills, or are in need of propane, fuel oil, or wood/pellets, CAC may be able to help.  The Winter Crisis Program is designed to help eligible Ohioans with their heating costs. 
Through the Winter Crisis Program, CAC can assist with a one-time payment up to $175.00 on income eligible Portage County residents’ Natural Gas and/or electricity bill, up to $550 for wood/pellets, and up to $900 for bulk fuel such as propane and fuel oil.  We can also enroll eligible households on the Percentage of Income Payment Plan+ (PIPP+), which is a payment plan designed to bring payments for regulated utility bills to a manageable payment, based on your household’s monthly income.  We currently have temporary funding to assist with water bills in addition to gas and electric. 
To qualify for the Winter Crisis Program, a household must be threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected or have less than a 25 percent supply of bulk fuel. The household must also have a gross income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level.
Individuals interested in receiving Winter Crisis assistance must have a phone appointment, and provide all required documentation.  Applicants will need to provide utility bills, proof of income, proof of citizenship, and proof of disability if applicable. Other documentation may be required based on each household’s individual circumstances.
Portage County residents can call toll free 234-703-4303 or go online https://app.capappointments.com 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 either by phone or online.
 
CAC also offers call-in appointments at our Ravenna office Monday through Thursday starting at 8:00 am through 10:00 am or until all the appointments are full.  If you call during this time, you will receive a same day-phone appointment time.  The phone number for call-ins is 330-297-1456 ext 0.  We will not be offering satellite sites for this year’s Winter Crisis Program due to the pandemic. 
 
ALL APPOINTMENTS, AND CALL-INS WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA PHONE INTERVIEW.  You are required to be available via the phone number provided, and have the required documents available so you are able to answer the intake specialists questions at the date and time of your appointment.  The Intake Specialist will work with you to decide what is the best method for providing your documents.
The Intake Specialist will attempt to reach you 2 (two) times during your scheduled appointment time.  If they are unable to reach you, you must re-schedule. At the conclusion of the Phone Interview, the Intake Specialist will inform you of the documents that you will need to submit and any other information necessary to complete the application.  This adjustment to policy does not change the requirement for collection of all required documentation.  Applications will only be considered complete when all required documentation has been provided.
 
For more information, contact the agency at 330-297-1456 (press 1 for HEAP).

​“The Community Action Council of Portage County wishes to announce the availability of its draft Two Year Budget and Work Plan for Calendar Years 2022 and 2023 under the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) for public review and comment. CSBG funding is used by the CAC to provide core funding for a wide variety of agency-operated programs designed to impact on poverty in Portage County and will be submitted to the Ohio Department of Development in December 2021. In the prior 2 year period, CSBG funds facilitated the provision of services to over 24,000 Portage County families in a wide variety of areas, including utility assistance and weatherization, other energy conservation and efficiency services, emergency home repair, rent and mortgage assistance, youth and after school services, technology training and testing, summer and other food services for children, and other services. Any individual wishing to review the application may contact the agency’s administrative offices @ (330) 297-1456, by visiting the offices located at 1036 West Main Street in Ravenna, Ohio, Monday-Friday, between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, or by contacting the agency via e-mail at dshea@cacportage.net or info@cacportage.net. The CSBG application will provide estimated funding to the agency approximating $325,138 per year for the period January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2023 but is subject to congressional actions that may dramatically change current and future funding. The application will be submitted to the Ohio Department of Development in December 2021.”

The Community Action Council of Portage County and Ohio Department of Development will help Ohioans stay warm during the cold winter months. The Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program provides eligible Ohioans heating assistance.  To qualify for the Winter Crisis Program, a household must be threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected or have less than a 25 percent supply of bulk fuel. The household must also have a gross income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level. The program runs from November 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022.  

You could be eligible for a payment on your gas, electric, water bill, propane, fuel oil, or wood/pellets.

Individuals interested in receiving Winter Crisis assistance must have a phone appointment, and provide all required documentation. Customers must provide the following items:

• 30days of income for all adult household members(self-employed individuals are required to provide 12 months of income and tax return; seasonal workers need most recent 12 months of income)
• copies of the most recent energy bills
• list of all household members with Social Security numbers and birth dates
• proof of U.S. citizenship/legal residency for all household members
• proof of disability if disabled
• Picture I.D.
• In some instances, we may request a statement of how COVID-19 has affected a household member.

 
It is important that you provide all of the necessary documentation.  Your application cannot be completed until all required documents have been provided.  All households have their own unique circumstances, and you may be asked for additional documentation at the time of your appointment.
 
Any family or individual can call toll free 234-703-4303 or go online https://app.capappointments.com 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 either by phone or online.

CAC also offers call-in appointments at our Ravenna office Monday through Thursday starting at 8:00 am through 10:00 am or until all the appointments are full.  We will not be offering satellite sites for this year’s Winter Crisis Program due to the pandemic. 
​
ALL APPOINTMENTS, AND CALL-INS WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA PHONE INTERVIEW.  You are required to be available via the phone number provided, and have the required documents available so you are able to answer the intake specialists questions at the date and time of your appointment.  The Intake Specialist will work with you to decide what is the best method for providing your documents.  For more information, contact the agency at 330-297-1456 (press 1 for HEAP).
 

​Community Action Council of Portage County (CAC) is still accepting call-ins for the Summer Crisis Program (SCP).  The program runs through September 30th, and may be able to assist households with a portion of their electric bill and provide a window air conditioner and/or fan to help with summer heat. 
To be eligible, households must be at or below 175% of poverty, 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 or been diagnosed with COVID-19. 
• A statement from a household member that they have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

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 (2018, 2019, 2020).
CAC will continue to have call-ins Monday through Thursday mornings starting at 8am.  Call-ins are limited and will be first come first serve until all available appointments have been filled for the day.  These appointments go very quickly and are generally filled by 8:30am.   
To determine eligibility, you will be required to provide the following documents:

• Most recent 30 days of household income (unless self-employed or seasonal, then 12 months of income is required)
• most recent heating bill
• most recent electric bill
• social security numbers for all household members
• proof of citizenship for all household members (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.

All HEAP services are offered via phone interview at this time.
To can apply online for HEAP and PIPP visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov
Portage County residents can get on the call-in schedule by calling 330-297-1456 ext 0.  If you would like to speak to someone, call 330-297-1456 and press 1 for HEAP.  At this time scheduled appointments are booked through September 30th, however if there are cancellations, appointments may become available.  To check appointment availability call our toll free appointment line 234-703-4303.