News

Jun 10, 2020

Beginning July 1, Community Action Akron Summit will help income-eligible Summit County residents maintain their utility service through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program. The program helps eligible residents pay an electric bill, purchase an air conditioning unit or fan (up to 2 fans), or pay for central air conditioning repairs. This year, the program has been extended and will run from July 1 until September 30, 2020. Due to the Coronavirus health crisis eligibility requirements has also been expanded so that more residents can be helped.
 Household income must be at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (at or below $45,850.00 for a family of four) and must meet at least one additional eligibility criteria listed below:

• A household member who is age 60 or older.
• A household member has a documented medical condition verified by a licensed physician or registered nurse practitioner.
• A household member that was diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020.
• Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) customers are eligible for assistance towards their default PIPP payment, first PIPP payment, central air conditioning repairs, or may receive an air conditioning unit and/or fan.
• A household’s electric utility has a disconnect notice, has been shut off, or new electric service is being established for the household. These households may also receive an air conditioning unit and/or fan or central air conditioning repairs, if the household can maintain electric service for 30 days.

Eligible households can receive up to $500 if they are a customer of a regulated utility, or $800 if they are a customer of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The assistance is applied to their utility bill, or to purchase an air conditioning unit or fan (up to 2 fans), or pay for central air conditioning repairs. Residents must have a gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance. For a family of four the annual income must be at or below $45,850.00.

Also new this year with SCP is that Summit County residents that are enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus Program (PIPP) who meet the above criteria may be eligible for assistance towards their default PIPP payment, first PIPP payment, central air conditioning repairs, or may receive an air conditioning unit and/or fan(s).

Due to the Coronavirus health crisis, Community Action Akron Summit will continue to complete scheduled appointments over the phone (no face-to face interviews) for the Summer Crisis Program (SCP).  Customers can call the HEAP line at 330-436-0261 or go to https://capappointments.com to schedule an appointment.  Customers that have a scheduled appointment must be available to complete the application process over the phone during their scheduled appointment time.

Community Action Akron Summit will also continue to process applications online and receive paper applications. The required documentation needed for HEAP can be dropped off at Akron-670 W. Exchange Street or Springfield-1367 Doty Drive, or Barberton-105 5th Street Documentation can also be faxed to 330-313-3884 or uploaded if applying on-line at www.energyhelp.ohio.gov