CLEVELAND — Beginning Monday, residents can begin applying for Ohio’s Winter Crisis Program known as HEAP. The program helps residents pay utilities during the winter months.
To be eligible, residents must live at or below 175% of the federal poverty line, not counting coronavirus stimulus checks.
Anyone who’s struggling to pay utility bills has been threatened with disconnection or has less than 25% of fuel can qualify for help.
In Lorain, that’s about 13% of the population.
Darnella Higginbotham with the Lorain County Community Action Agency said the need for heating help is still in high demand due to the pandemic.
“I know last year we serviced a little over 2,400 families and out of that 2,400 at least over a thousand were processed for monetary assistance towards their utility bills,” said Higginbotham.
The program runs until March 31, 2022.
Find more information on the HEAP program here.
Find more information on Lorain's program here.
RELATED: How to apply for utility assistance through Winter Crisis Program
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