HEAP serves over 300 households

Agency saw higher applications this season, executive director reports

Lifeline’s HEAP Summer Crisis Program, which began July 1 and concluded on Sept. 30, assisted over 300 Lake County households in beating the heat this season.

Throughout the three months, Lifeline staff completed emergency assistance applications for 466 households from nearly every community in Lake County. Of those applications, 317 of them were either approved for assistance with their electric bill or received an air conditioner or fan, the agency confirms.

Nearly $43,000 in federal dollars was expended over the course of the season, in addition to the window air conditioners and fans distributed.

“This year, we extended the length of the program and expanded eligibility requirements so we could help more Ohioans during this health crisis,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. “We’re working with Lifeline every day to help Ohioans in need.”

Lifeline Executive Director Carrie Dotson noted the program isn’t j ust about providing comfort, but about keeping vulnerable residents, senior citizens and those with health conditions, including the novel coronavirus, safe and healthy.

“With the guidelines to qualify for the program requiring that applicants must either have a senior citizen in the home (60 or older) or have a physician-documented health condition, we know we’re helping folks who really need assistance,” she said. “These are people who clearly need their utilities on and to keep cool during the hottest months of the year.”

Additional conditions can include lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma.

This year, households that were diagnosed with COVID-19, had a disconnect notice, had services shut off or had new service established (on electric bills) were also eligible for assistance, Dotson added.

Applicants also had to have a household gross income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty level.

Dotson noted application numbers were “way up” in 2020 and that approval numbers “would have been much higher” if not for an air conditioner shortage.

“We ordered 80 and only received two from our supplier which they blamed on COVID-19,” she said, adding that the pandemic brought a different element to the program than in past years.

“Because of the virus, we didn’t have a lobby full of walk-ins and we weren’t able to do outreach and intake at the local senior centers as we usually do. But with so many of our residents struggling financially as a result of COVID-19 and layoffs, we were thankful to Ohio Development Services Agency for allowing for over-the-phone intake, because we felt that really was the safest way to serve our community.”

Another unique experience, Dotson emphasized, was conducting an entire crisis season virtually — with all appointments done over the phone.

“We wanted things done in the safest way possible, especially since we were working with seniors and immunocompromised folks,” she said. “The challenge that presents is that we still need documents from folks to verify income, etc., so they were mailing those in or dropping them off in our lobby. That’s part of the reason we had so many more (people) apply than were approved, I think. It’s much easier to see folks in person for appointments, but with COVID-19, we really felt the phone intake was the safest.

“Like everyone else, we’re looking forward to this pandemic being over and getting back to providing good, in-person customer service. For more information on HEAP Programs, contact Lifeline, Inc.’s Energy Assistance Office at 440350-9160. Lifeline’s Energy Assistance Office is located at One Victoria Place, Suite 265A in Painesville.