Home >> Office of Community Assistance

What is the Emergency Component of HEAP?

A special component of HEAP is the Winter Crisis Program (WCP). The Winter Crisis Program is administered by the local delegate agencies, in most cases local Community Action Agencies. In Geauga County, the delegate agency is the Office of Job and Family Services.

Last year, there were more than 175,000 households served by the Emergency Winter Crisis Program. The Program provides assistance once per heating season to eligible households that are disconnected, threatened with disconnection, or have less than a 10-day supply or less than 25 percent supply of bulk fuel in their tank. Those households, serviced by a PUCO-regulated utility, must sign up for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) or another payment plan in order to receive emergency benefits. Bulk fuel users must certify in writing that they have less then a 10-day supply or less than 25 percent supply of bulk fuel in order to be eligible. The Winter Crisis Program can also help pay for heating system repairs in certain cases.

What is the Summer Crisis Program?

The Office of Community Assistance (OCA) also funds the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - Summer Crisis Program. The Summer Crisis Program is designed to help qualified households pay for summer cooling. The Program applies to electric utilities only and is available from July 1 through August 31. The Summer Crisis Program is administered by the local delegate agencies.

How do I qualify for the Summer Crisis Program?

Households must have a gross annual income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level and meet one of the following criteria to be eligible for the Summer Crisis Program: Have a member of the household who is at least 60 years old, or provide physician documentation of medical necessity.

What are the benefits of the Summer Crisis Program?

It is a one-time payment assistance of up to $175. The benefit must result in continuation of service for 30 days and/or receipt of a fan or air conditioning unit. You do not have to be enrolled in PIPP Plus to be eligible for the Summer Crisis Program. You do not need a disconnection notice to be eligible for the Program. If the local designated agency is providing air conditioners as a benefit, there is a limit of one air conditioning unit per household (for households that have not received an air conditioning unit in the last three years).

Winter Crisis Program Eligibility Requirements:

Households with a gross income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the Winter Crisis Program. A household with a total income during the past three months that is equal to or less than the following maximums may be eligible:

Households with more than eight members should add $1,910 per member to the quarterly income.

Households may qualify for benefits using the 12 month income test, if the past three months income is above the maximum.

How do you apply for the Winter Crisis Program?

Applications must be completed at the local HEAP delegate agencies. It is important that you call for an appointment. Income documentation must be presented at the time of application for all household members, except wage or salary income earned by dependent minors under 18 years old. (Community Action Agencies). 

Applications for the Winter Crisis Program will be accepted November 1 through March 31.