News

Oct 31, 2024

Community Action Akron Summit can help income-eligible Summit County residents stay warm during the cold months through the Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program (HEAP Winter Crisis Program). Residents who qualify can get assistance paying energy bills or for eligible heating system repairs during winter.

Beginning November 1, the HEAP Winter Crisis Program, through the Ohio Department of Development and Community Action Akron Summit, helps eligible residents maintain utility service if they are threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected, need to establish new service, need to pay to transfer service, have or want to set up a percentage-of-income payment plan or have 25% (or less) supply of bulk fuel in their tank maintain their utility service. The program runs from November 1 until the end of March 2025.

To apply for assistance, residents must schedule an appointment with Community Action staff. Residents can schedule an appointment by calling 330-436-0261 or online at capappointments.com. 

When making an appointment, residents should listen carefully to all instructions and write down the confirmation number given. Also, listen carefully to whether your appointment will be in person or a phone interview. 

If any required documentation is missing at the time of an appointment, the assistance available to you will be delayed until documentation is received. An appointment no-show may result in utilities being shut off.

Applicants must have copies of the following documents for their appointments:

• Copies of most recent energy bills
• List of all household members 
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members
• Proof of income for the last 30 days (12 months in some cases) for every household member age 18 and over
• Social security cards and birth certificates for all household members
• Lease or landlord name, with address and telephone number
• If utility service is OFF, needs to be transferred, or a new account is being established, the client must call the utility company to get a pending account number.

Community Action has administered the HEAP Winter Crisis Program in Summit County since 1984. During the 2023-2024 season, 3,051 Summit County households received Winter Crisis assistance payments totaling more than $418,600. 

Eligible households can receive up to $175 if they are a client of a regulated utility, or $750 if they are a client of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The primary heating source and related electric energy source must be either in disconnect status, have been terminated, need to establish new service, need to transfer service, have PIPP default, first PIPP, have 25% (or less) of bulk fuel supply remaining, or heating unit repair/replacement is needed. The assistance is applied to their utility bill or heating system repair costs. Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines for households with up to seven members and 60% State Median Income (SMI) for households with eight or more members to qualify for assistance. For example, a family of four may have an annual gross countable income of up to $54,000.
An appointment no-show may result in utilities being shut off. 

HEAP officials emphasize that not all Winter Crisis customers will be eligible for the entire $175 because the actual amount depends on individual circumstances. A household can apply for HEAP Winter Crisis Program only once between November 2024 and March 31, 2025.

For more information about the features of the HEAP Winter Crisis Program, contact Community Action at 330-253-8806, text HEAP to 33030, or visit energyhelp.ohio.gov.