LCCAA Winter Crisis program still available for Lorain County residents needing heating help

LORAIN — A program that helps Lorain County residents who are without heat or threatened with disconnection remains available through March 31, according to the Lorain County Community Action Agency. A news release from the agency stated that Columbia Gas customers can access Fuel Funds, and the annual Home Energy Assistance Program benefit can be applied to their bills through the state. Funding for home heating system repairs is also available for those in need. The LCCAA's Winter Crisis program is available to applicants who are living at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty line or have a COVID-19 diagnosis, according to the release. More information is available at lccaa.net. Crisis appointments are available to be scheduled online at lccaa.secure.force.com/appointments for numerous reasons, including heat being disconnected, a disconnection notice having been received, needing to establish new service, needing to pay to transfer service. Bulk fuel users who have less than a 10-day supply of wood, coal, pellets, propane or oil, as well as households that have had a member be positive for COVID-19 within the last 12 months can also schedule an appointment. The release states that these appointments will be conducted over the phone. Those who have a pending disconnection notice need to provide their account number during appointment scheduling to place a hold on the disconnection. Additionally, the appointment must be at least 48 hours before the scheduled disconnection, and disconnection may result for those who miss or reschedule their appointment. Columbia Gas customers do not need a disconnect notice and are able to use the Fuel Funds after exhausting all other options for energy assistance if they live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, according to the release. Residents can receive a maximum benefit of $175 for regulated gas and electric utilities, $750 for unregulated gas and electric utilities, $900 for bulk fuel, propane, heating oil or kerosene, $550 for coal or wood and $500 in heating unit repairs or replacements through the Winter Crisis program. A higher-than-usual number of people have sought furnace repairs this winter, according to LCCAA. Those who do not have a disconnect notice but need help paying their bill may be eligible for the Home Energy Assistance Program, according to the release. Applications for that program can be found at energyhelp.ohio.gov. Senior citizens ages 60 and older who cannot make appointments online can walk into the Lorain County Office on Aging office, 320 Gateway Blvd. North, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. An LCCAA Energy Services employee will be stationed there during those hours, according to the release. Secure drop boxes are also available at both the Lorain County Office on Aging office in Elyria and at LCCAA, 936 Broadway Ave., Lorain, for participants to drop off required documents. Those required documents include income information for all household members 18 years of age or older for the last 30 days, "no income" forms for any member reporting no income, Social Security numbers for all household members, proof of citizenship for all household members and the most recent electric and gas bills. According to the release, coronavirus stimulus checks do not count as income for the program, nor does Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF). Fuel funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis until depleted.