News Room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 16, 2007

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today urged Ohioans eligible for home heating assistance to apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Winter Heating Program. To date, more than 192,000 applications for regular HEAP assistance have been received, of which 158,634 are eligible for a one-time average benefit payment of $290 toward utility payments for home heating. During the same period last year, requests for HEAP assistance were slightly lower, with 170,215 applications received and 121,654 households declared eligible for assistance.

"As we enter the second half of the home heating season, I want to encourage all eligible Ohioans to apply for help from the Home Energy Assistance Program," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as state development director. "With the coldest temperatures of the year still to come, no Ohioan should have to struggle with the cost of keeping their home warm this winter."

Applications for the HEAP Winter Heating Program are accepted from August 1 through May 31. Additionally, if customers are facing a utility disconnect order, have already been disconnected or have less than 10 days of a bulk fuel supply, the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (EHEAP) is available through March 31, 2007. Eligible Ohioans are encouraged to contact their local community action agencies for assistance in applying for HEAP or EHEAP funds.

Qualifying for HEAP depends on the size of the household and the total gross household income, which must be at or below 175 percent of the 2006-2007 federal poverty guidelines. HEAP is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, administered by the Ohio Department of Development's Community Development Division and provides assistance to eligible households during the winter months when home heating costs are the most expensive.

For more information about HEAP, visit www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/ocs/heap.htm.