Ohio Development Services Agency and Cuyahoga County have partnered to help income-eligible Ohioans maintain their utility service through the Home Energy Assistance (HEAP) Summer Crisis Program.

The program, which runs through Sept. 30, helps residents purchase an air conditioning unit or fan or pay for central air conditioning repairs. It assists low-income households with an older household member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member's health.

Other eligible households include those:

• Diagnosed with COVID-19
• With a disconnect notice
• Who have had service disconnected
• Who are trying to establish new service on their electric bill

An applicant’s household income must also fall below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

Households can receive up to $500 if they are a customer of a regulated utility, or $800 if they are a customer of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities.

County residents enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus Program (PIPP) who meet the criteria may be eligible for assistance towards:

• Their default PIPP payment
• First PIPP payment
• Central air conditioning repairs
• An air conditioning unit and/or fan.

Older adults age 60 and over and their caregivers can learn more about the HEAP Summer Crisis Program eligibility requirements by contacting DSAS at 216-420-6700.