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The Ohio Development Services Agency and Lifeline, Inc. continue to help income-eligible Ohio residents maintain public service through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis program.
The program will run until September 30, Lifeline officials recently announced.
According to the community action agency, more than 250 families have asked for help since July 1.
To date, 164 households have been approved for assistance, including four receiving fans and 41 receiving air conditioners.
In addition, over $ 36,000 in federal HEAP funding has been spent.
“The summer has been pretty hot and with the expanded guidelines we knew we would be busy this summer,” said Lifeline CEO Carrie Dotson.
“Our goal with the Summer Crisis Program is always to keep our most vulnerable residents, the elderly and those with health challenges, safe, cool and comfortable during the hot summer months.”
The Summer Crisis program assists households with an older household member, 60 years of age or older, or households who can provide medical documentation indicating that cooling assistance is necessary for the health of a household member.
“We have also Coronavirus Relief Fund via Ohio State and Lake County to help with utilities if the household has had a financial impact related to COVID-19, ”Dotson said. “People can contact 211 for that.”
Eligible households can receive up to $ 500 if they are customers of a regulated utility or up to $ 800 if they are customers of unregulated utilities such as electricity co-ops and municipal utilities.
Assistance applies to their utility bill, the purchase of an air conditioner or fan, or payment for central air conditioning repairs.
Officials noted that Ohioans must have a gross income equal to or less than 175 percent of federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance. For a family of four, the annual income must be equal to or less than $ 46,375.
Ohioans enrolled in the Program Income Percentage Payment Plan Plus who meet the above criteria may be eligible for assistance with their default PIPP payment, their first PIPP payment, or may receive an air conditioning unit and / or fan.
Visit energyhelp.ohio.gov to begin their application before their required appointment.
Dotson said the appointments will take place in person at Lifeline. To make an appointment, call 440-381-8230 or visit app.capappointments.com/.
All walk-in sessions will be held by appointment only. Appointments will be added daily for the next business day to account for critical circumstances and walk-in appointments.
Appointments will be reserved for candidates for the summer crisis program. Clients requesting HEAP and PIPP will not receive an appointment, but will have the option to apply online or to file, fax or mail applications and all checks to our office for processing.
For more information call 440-350-9160 or visit www.lclifeline.org.
Lifeline is located at One Victoria Place, Suite 265A in Painesville.
Additional information is also available on www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or by calling 1-800-282-0880.
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