Winter heating assistance available for residents

Winter heating assistance for residents who need help paying for heat or who have had their heat turned off will be available now through March 31, at Lorain County Community Action Agency’s three locations.

To be eligible for help, residents must live at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty line, according to a news release.

Last year, the Community Action Agency directly helped more than 2,000 clients during the winter crisis period, the release said.

The Winter Crisis Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency’s Office of Community Assistance.

Community Action Agency serves clients at three locations: 936 Broadway in Lorain; in the Wellington Village Hall at 115 Willard Memorial Square; and a new satellite location at St. Agnes Church, 611 Lake Ave. in Elyria.

Residents who have received a disconnect notice are urged to call the HEAP hotline at 855-806-9620 to make an appointment, the release said.

The automated line is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Utility companies will hold your disconnect if you have made an appointment to determine your eligibility, according to the release.

However, your appointment must be no less than 48 hours before your disconnect is scheduled and you must keep your appointment to maintain that hold on your account, the release said.

Rescheduling removes the hold and you may lose service.

Walk-ins are available at the Lorain location from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Appointments are available all day.

The Wellington Office sees walk-ins only in the morning and by appointment in the afternoon.

Wellington is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, during the crisis period.

The Elyria office is open on Mondays and Tuesdays with an emphasis on walkins.

Walk-ins are received from 8-11 a.m., Mondays, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays.

Appointments at the Elyria office are available from 1-4 p.m., Mondays.

All sites are closed for lunch daily from noon to 1 p.m.

You must be seated with an advocate within 45 minutes of closing to be seen, the release said.

The Community Action Agency’s automated appointment line includes a recorded message describing the documents needed for the appointment.

Those needing to do so may also speak to a representative during regular office hours.