The Community Action Council of Portage County and Ohio Development Services Agency 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. For a family of four the annual income must be at or below $43,925. The program runs from November 1, 2018 until March 31, 2019, and you can make appointments beginning on October 22, 2018.
Individuals interested in receiving Winter Crisis assistance must have a face-to-face interview. Customers must bring the following items to their appointment:

• 30 days of income for all adult household members(self-employed individuals are required to bring 12 months of income and tax return; seasonal workers need most recent 12 months of income)
• copies of their 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

 
It is important that you bring all of the necessary documentation with you when you arrive for an appointment, or come for a walk-in.  If all necessary documentation is not provided, you will not be seen by an Intake Specialist.  All households have their own unique circumstances, and you may be asked for additional documentation at the time of your face to face interview.
 
Any family or individual can call our new toll free number (877-298-4307) to schedule an appointment or 330-297-1456 #1.  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 also offers walk-ins at our Ravenna office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8:00 am, and will see the first 24 households that have all necessary documentation.  We also have 5 walk-in satellite offices throughout Portage County.  HEAP Satellite centers are located at The Kent Free Library (1115 Franklin Avenue in Kent); The Renaissance Family Center (9005 Wilverne Drive in Windham); Garrettsville Library  ( 10482 South St. in Garrettsville); The Portage County Senior Center (705 Oakwood St. in Ravenna); and the Atwater Townhall (1219 State Route 183 in Atwater).  For more information about satellite days and times, contact the agency at 330-297-1456 (press 0 for receptionist)
 For more information, please call 330-297-1456 and use extension 236.

​Community Action Council of Portage County (CAC) is still accepting appointments and walk-ins for the Summer Crisis Program (SCP).  The program runs through August 31st, 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.

Residents who are participants in the PIPP+ program are not eligible for electric bill assistance, but may be eligible for an air conditioner or fan, unless they are in default under PIPP+.  CAC strongly encourages families on PIPP+ to remain current with all payments and re-verify when there is a change in household income. 

To be eligible, households must be at or below 175% of poverty, be over age 60, or be able to provide physicians statement that electric service is essential to the health of a household member. In order to be eligible for an air conditioner, you may not have received one through HEAP for the past 3 program years.

CAC will continue to have walk-ins on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 8-11am.  Walk-ins are limited to the first 12 households.

To determine eligibility, the following documents must be brought to your appointment/walk-in: most recent 30 days of household income(unless self-employed or seasonal, then 12 months of income is required), most recent gas bill, most recent electric bill, social security numbers for all household members, proof of citizenship (can be birth cert or soc sec card) for ALL household members, 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, sometimes individual circumstances require additional documentation.
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Call CAC at 330-297-1456 and press option1, to make an appointment, or 0 if you have questions.  CAC is located at 1036 West Main Street in Ravenna. 

​The Community Action Council of Portage County is administering the Summer Crisis Cooling Program beginning on July 2nd, 2018 through August 31st, 2018.
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 have a household member that is 60 or older or have a medical condition that would benefit from air conditioning documented by a medical doctor, and be responsible for electric service in their home.
To determine eligibility, the following documents must be brought to your appointment/walk-in: most recent 30 days of household income(unless self-employed or seasonal, then 12 months of income is required), most recent gas bill, most recent electric bill, social security numbers for all household members, proof of citizenship (can be birth cert or soc sec 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, sometimes individual circumstances require additional documentation.
Portage County residents can schedule an appointment by calling CAC at 330-297-1456 and choosing option 1 to use our voice automated appointment line.
Walk-ins will be at 1036 West Main Street in Ravenna on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00am to 11:00am, and the first 12 clients will be seen.