May 1, 2019 – Lake County, Ohio’s Community Action Agency, Lifeline, Inc., approved winter crisis assistance for 743 applicants out of 781 applications accepted. The Crisis Assistance Program in Ohio operates from Nov. 1 through March 29. According to the news release, over $194,000 in federal funds was used for the crisis assistance.
“We were always booked three or four solid weeks out for appointments,” said Carrie Dotson, Lifeline’s Executive Director, “It was definitely a busy season.”
To qualify for crisis assistance in Ohio, a customer must have received a shut-off notice, been disconnected or have less than a ten-day supply of bulk fuel. The benefit awards are paid directly to the energy supplier and are a one-time per year benefit.
The crisis program may have ended for the winter, but there is still assistance available for Lake County residents through Ohio’s Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP). PIPP is a year-round program to help Ohioans manage their energy bills.
Marina Rivera, Lifeline’s Energy Program Coordinator, said, “For each on-time and full monthly payment, PIPP Plus customers see a credit on their bills for their current balances and a credit toward their accumulated arrearage.”
To learn more about assistance programs in your area, visit the LIHEAP Clearinghouse State Snapshots web page.
Source: media reports
