HEATING ASSISTANCE STILL AVAILABLE THROUGH CAC Winter HEAP Continues thru March 31st

The Community Action Council of Portage County is continuing to make appointments and have walk-in days at multiple locations around Portage County for households in need of assistance under the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Since November 1st, CAC has assisted over 4,000 families and provided over $300,000 in emergency assistance. The Emergency Winter Crisis Program ends on 3/31/17.

Families needing emergency assistance must meet with a HEAP Intake Specialist by scheduling an appointment or visiting the agency on specified walk-in days. To schedule an appointment to meet with an Intake Specialist please call CAC 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 and can usually help prevent a pending disconnection for 30 days. 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. Customers must participate in a payment plan if requesting assistance on Dominion East Ohio Gas or Ohio Edison, such as PIPP PLUS, or another utility sponsored plan. CAC can assist families in applying for PIPP Plus and the “Regular” HEAP program during the appointment.

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. For additional information about satellite locations and times, you can call our IVR at 330-297-1456 option 1 and say “walk-in”, and for a list of needed documents say “list”.

Households at or below 175% of the poverty level should be eligible for emergency assistance. Customers must be income eligible, and provide documentation to be approved 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 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 the phone numbers above or by e-mail at [email protected].