Emergency Heating Assistance Available Through March 31st, 2020

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.