Winter Crisis Program Begins November 2, 2020 at MYCAP
The Ohio Development Services Agency and Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership (MYCAP) will help income-eligible Ohioans stay warm during the winter months. The Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program provides eligible Ohioans assistance if they ae disconnected with their gas or electric, threatened with disconnection with the gas or the electric or if they have less than a 25 percent supply of bulk fuel or repair of a non-heating furnace. The program runs from November 1,2020 until March 31, 2020.
Household’s with a member diagnosed with COVID-19, do not need to have a disconnection notice, but will need to provide a signed statement of having had COVID-19.
To apply for the program, clients are required to schedule an appointment with MYCAP. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 330-778-2992, beginning Oct 28, 2020. Currently our days of operation will be Monday through Friday, starting November 2, 2020.
Walk-ins who are those needing assistance to transfer service, new service or reconnect, or those whose PIPP reverification has passed can schedule limited appointments at the same number at 2pm for our next business day. Electric reconnect customers would need to pay the $35.00 reconnect fee and provide the receipt or confirmation number.
Currently the COVID-19 procedure is that the scheduled appointment will result in a phone interview. Provide a good phone number as you will be called on your appointment day as close to your time as possible. Instructions will be provided of what documents are needed and options to provide them.
Clients need to provide copies of the following documents:
- Photo ID for everyone 18 and older
- Copies of their most recent energy bills, Pending Account Numbers or Bulk Fuel Bill
- A list of all household members and proof of income for the last 30 days or 12 months for each member;
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members; actual social security cards, birth certificate, passport, voter registration, permanent visa, naturalization papers
- Proof of disability (if applicable);
- Physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health (if there isn’t a household member over the age of 60).
- Social Security number verification for all household members
Reminder: A ONE time hold can be placed per utility with a Winter Crisis Appointment provided the Winter Reconnect Order has not been used with that utility.
Last year more than 2,200 families in Mahoning County were assisted through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program.
Eligible households can receive up to $175.000 if they have a regulated utility, or $550.00 if they are a client of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The assistance is applied to their utility bill or to home owner’s furnace non-heating repairs. Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance.
For more information about the features of the Winter Crisis Program, contact MYCAP at 330-747-7921.For more information about Energy Assistance Programs call (800)282-0880, Monday through Friday (hearing impaired clients may dial 711 for assistance) and for a list of Energy Assistance Providers select option 2, or visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov.