Helping Ohioans Beat the Heat Summer Crisis Program begins July 1 COLUMBUS – July and August can be two of the hottest months of the year in Ohio, especially for those without air conditioning. Starting July 1 until August 31, 2014, the Hocking. Athens. Perry Community Action and Ohio Development Services Agency will help income-eligible Ohioans purchase an air conditioner, and/or assist in the payment of an electric bill, helping them keep cool during the hot summer days. “The heat can take its toll on older Ohioans and Ohioans with breathing conditions. Together with Hocking. Athens. Perry Community Action, we want to reduce risk of heat related illnesses in our communities,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. In 2013, more than 1200 families in Hocking, Athens, and Perry Counties were assisted through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program. The Summer Crisis Program provides assistance to low-income households with an elderly member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household members health. This can include lung disease; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease; or asthma, which affects more than 850,000 Ohioans, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Eligible households can receive up to $350 to purchase an air conditioner, and/or to assist in the payment of an electric bill. This year, the program will also provide assistance up to $400 to customers of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. Customers of the unregulated utilities are eligible if they have a disconnection notice and have a gross income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. For a family of four the annual income must be at or below $41,737.50. Ohioans also are encouraged to work with their local job and family services agency and faith-based organizations for additional assistance. For more information about the Summer Crisis Program, contact Hocking. Athens. Perry Community Action at (740) 767-4500. Additional information can also be found at energyhelp.ohio.gov, hapcap.org/summercooling or by calling toll-free at (800) 282-0880.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 14:33:39 +0000
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