Winter Crisis Program helps Ohioans

Greene County News

XENIA — Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area and the Ohio Development Services Agency will help eligible Ohioans stay warm during the upcoming cold winter months. The Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program provides eligible Ohioans heating assistance if they are disconnected from their heating source, threatened with disconnection or if they have less than 25 percent supply of bulk fuel. The program runs from Tuesday, Nov. 1, through Friday, March 31, 2017.

Since 2011, the Winter Crisis Program has helped approximately 4,000 households in Greene County. To qualify for the Winter Crisis Program, a household must be threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected or have less than a 25 percent supply of bulk fuel. The household must also have a gross income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, this is an annual income of $42,525.

Greene County residents interested in receiving Winter Crisis assistance may be seen at the Community Action Partnership office, 469 Dayton Avenue. Customers must bring the following items to their appointment: proof of income (copies of pay stubs), copies of their most recent energy bills, photo ID, list of all household members with Social Security numbers and birth dates and proof of U.S. citizenship/legal residency for all household members.

Documents that are accepted to prove citizenship/legal residency include: a Social Security Card, birth certificate, U.S. Passport, naturalization paper/certification of citizenship, permanent VISA, and INS ID Card.

Greene County residents may schedule an appointment by calling 1-866-504-7379. Calling for appointments begins at 4 p.m., with appointments being made for the next 14 days.

Customers who have been disconnected, are threatened with disconnection, or need to transfer services may call beginning at 6 a.m. for a same day appointment beginning at 1 p.m. Due to the high volume of calls, several attempts may be required to make an appointment.

For more information about the Winter Crisis Program, call the toll-free hotline at 800-282-0880, Monday through Friday (hearing impaired customers may dial 800-686-1557 for assistance) or visit http://bit.ly/2fqparW.

For more information about energy assistance programs and a list of energy assistance providers, call 800-282-0880 or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov.

Story courtesy of Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area.