Home Energy Assistance Program helps Ohioans stay cool amid funding cuts

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It has been a hot and humid summer, but there is some local relief. The Ohio Department of Development is once again offering assistance to help families stay cool. 

Now, through Sept. 30, income-eligible Ohioans can receive assistance in paying their electric bill, purchasing an air conditioner or fan, or making repairs to their central air conditioning unit through the Ohio Department of Development’s Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program (HEAP).

Last year, the Summer Crisis Program assisted more than 44,000 households in Ohio, providing a total of $13.5 million in benefits.

"Unfortunately, we're not going to be able to help everyone that we assisted last year, which is a bummer because you never want to tell anyone that you cannot assist," Director of Emergency Assistance at IMPACT Kimberly Hightower said.

Hightower said funding cuts are to blame for this. 

"The state allocates our funding, so we received roughly around $200,000 less than what we received in the past," Hightower said. "Unfortunately, we don't have any control over the funding that we receive."

Despite this, IMPACT Community Action hosted its annual 'Beat the Heat' event at the end of June, helping the program to get off to a solid start.

"At the event we took over fifty appointments," Hightower said. "We have started the program off really strong."

Hightower said this program has proven to be a vital lifeline.

"If you've never had your utilities cut off before, you probably wouldn't understand the importance of keeping the refrigerator on or keeping the lights on," Hightower said. "Because, again, most of our seniors are on medication and most of them have diet restrictions. So is definitely important that these services continues to run."

To qualify for assistance, your household's gross income must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines. The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households or those that have a disconnection notice, have been shut off, are trying to establish new service on their electric bill, require air conditioning, or those with a person 60 years or older living in the home who can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for their health

"The more you run your AC units or your fans, the higher those bills go," Hightower said. "And so not only are we trying to reduce those bills, but we also will put you on a program called our PIPP program."

Hightower said the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) bases bills off your income, to ease the rising costs of utilities. 

"Without electric in this heat, we can only imagine what would happen to those who didn't have the service, or the service wasn't available to them," Hightower said. "And so this not only is a benefit to them, but it's a necessity to ensure that they are keeping those lights on."

Anyone interested in applying for the program can visit this link.