Home Energy Assistance Program Summer Crisis Program Wraps Up August 31

August 25, 2017
PAINESVILLE, Ohio— The HEAP Summer Crisis Program (SCP) began on July 3rd and this year applications will again be processed by Lifeline, Inc., Lake County’s Community Action Agency. Appointments will be scheduled through August 31, 2017.

“July and August can be two extremely hot months in Ohio, and that can take a toll on older Ohioans and Ohioans with breathing conditions,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency.

This season, nearly 250 Lake County households have already applied for assistance.

“Our goal with the Summer Crisis Program is always to keep our most vulnerable residents, the elderly and those with health conditions, safe, cool and comfortable in the hot summer months,” said Carrie Dotson, Executive Director at Lifeline. “We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to impact so many of them already this summer.”

The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households with an older household member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health. Conditions can include lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or asthma.

Eligible households can receive up to $300 if they are a customer of a regulated utility, or $500 if they are a customer of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The assistance is applied to their utility bill or applied to central air conditioning repair costs. Eligible customers can also apply to receive a window air conditioner.

Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance. For a family of four the annual income must be at or below $43,050. As the eligibility guidelines have changed from last year’s SCP, participants are recommended to contact the Lifeline, Inc. Energy Assistance Office to see if they meet eligibility guidelines at (440) 350-9160. Information is also available on the Lifeline website at www.lclifeline.org

While all appointments for the remainder of the Summer Crisis Program are booked, a limited number of walk-ins will be accepted on a first come, first served basis on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7:30 a.m. Only customers who meet the eligibility requirements and have all required documentation will be able to complete their application process.

Lifeline’s HEAP automated appointment line, 1-866-223-1471, provides callers a list of the required documents needed to complete an application.

Required documentation includes photo ID, social security cards for all household members, proof of all household gross income for the last 90 days, plus current gas and electric bills and name of your fuel oil carrier, if applicable. If applicant is moving, pending account numbers must be provided for new utility accounts. If any utilities are included in applicant’s rent, a current lease copy will also be required. Additional documents may be required on a case by case basis.

For more information on the HEAP Programs, please contact Lifeline, Inc.’s Energy Assistance Office at (440) 350-9160. Lifeline’s Energy Assistance Office is located at 54 S. State Street, Suite 303 in Painesville.

Lifeline for the Empowerment and Development of Consumers was founded in 1973 with the mission of helping Lake County residents by providing them assistance and life skills programming that is designed to increase self-sufficiency. In 1980 Lifeline became a participating agency of the United Way of Lake County, UWLC, and in 1987 was designated a community action agency by the Ohio Development Services Agency, ODSA. In 2008, Lifeline was designated as a mental health agency by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Today Lifeline continues with the same mission of helping Lake County’s low-income residents break the cycle of poverty and make the transition from agency-dependency to self-sufficiency. Lifeline’s current programming includes services in the healthcare, housing & energy assistance, information & referral services and consumer education & job training areas. Our motto is ‘helping people, changing lives.’ Lifeline is currently funded by the UWLC and by grants through the ODSA, the Lake County Board of Commissioners, the Lake County ADAMHS Board, Lake County Department of Job & Family Services, the City of Mentor, the Western Reserve Junior Service League and through private donors.