HEAP summer cooling program begins Monday

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Home Energy Assistance Program will assist income-eligible Mahoning County residents and other Ohioans with cooling assistance during the summer months.

The program is through the Ohio Development Services Agency and Office of Community Assistance and administered by Mahoning-Youngstown Community Action Partnership. It starts Monday and continues through Aug. 31.

The program provides electric utility and/or cooling assistance to households with incomes of up to 175 percent of the 2013 Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Household members under age 60 with a medical condition must have physician’s documentation or a prescription issued no more than one-year before to the date of the application for cooling.

Customers with a medical condition classified as chronic by a licensed physician or registered nurse practitioner must re-submit medical documentation every three years. Documentation must state the household member would benefit from continued electric service or an air conditioner.

Households with a person age 60 or older do not need a physician’s prescription or documentation and may receive assistance if they are income eligible.

Residents 60 or older, or residents who have a prescription, may receive air conditioners or fans and/or payment on their electric bill if they are in default on the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus Program, their electric service is disconnected, or they are facing disconnection.

If the electric bill is not in a tenant’s name, the tenant cannot receive utility assistance or an air conditioner. This guideline is different from the 2012 requirements.

Appointments can be made by calling the Youngstown MYCAP office toll free at 866-223-1125 or at the Western Mahoning County office in Sebring at 330-938-6166.

A limited number of walk-ins will be seen at the MYCAP Youngstown office weekdays at 8 a.m. beginning Monday. Walk-in customers are those with no electric service.