PREBLE COUNTY — The Preble County Council on Aging and Ohio Development Services Agency will help eligible Ohioans stay warm during the 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 Nov. 1, 2016 until March 31, 2017.
“Working with Preble County Council on Aging, we want to help Ohioans stay warm this winter,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency.
More than 51 families in Preble County were assisted through the Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program last year.
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 the annual income must be at or below $42,525. From November 2015-March 2016, more than 118,000 Ohioans were helped by the program statewide.
Individuals interested in receiving Winter Crisis assistance must have a face-to-face interview at the local HEAP provider. 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
• 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.
Ohioans also can 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://development.ohio.gov/is/is_heapwinter.htm for more information about the Winter Crisis Program.
For more information about energy assistance programs and a list of energy assistance providers, call (800) 282-0880 or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov.
