A Summer Crisis program to help low-income families stay cool starts off with less funding
By: Joshua Hoerner
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ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — A Summer Crisis program that helps low-income people pay their utility bills and stay cool this summer is underway.
Lora Rawson, executive director of Gallia-Meigs Community Action Agency, said when she first realized how much less funding they were getting from the state this year, she figured they would not be able to buy fans or air conditioners for people in need as they have in summers past.
However, the state’s Department of Development has since clarified that agencies can apply for additional funding if they need more to meet the demand.
Brian Bohnert, senior public information officer at the Department of Development, explained when agencies could apply for extra funding.
“Agencies do not need to wait until they’ve spent their full Summer Crisis allocation to request additional funding,” he said. “If they’re seeing demand that goes beyond what they’ve already received, we encourage them to reach out to us as soon as possible.”
Eva Bloom, director of development for the Hocking Athens Perry Community Action Program (HAPCAP), explained the importance of the program to communities.
“The summer crisis program can help individuals who may be facing disconnect maintain their electric service so that they can keep their homes reliably at a safe temperature,” Bloom said. “It gets very hot in Ohio during the summer. And if homes are not properly cooled, then they can have health impacts on the residents.”
Last year, HAPCAP provided help for 1,216 people over the summer.
Bohnert said the state is reducing funding this year, or at least the initial allocation, back to pre-pandemic levels.
However, the agencies say the need has not declined. Rawson and Bloom both said they are expecting requests for aid to go up this summer.
“It rises as the economy changes,” Rawson said. “The need will increase.”
Molly Seimetz, executive director of Jackson-Vinton Community Action, also noted that costs are higher.
She said the AC units her agency provides are almost $200 more this year.
“The cost for everything since pre-Covid is up,” Seimetz said.
The Summer Crisis program runs through Sept. 30. To qualify for aid, a household’s gross income must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines, and it must meet at least one of the following:
- Have an older household member (60 years or older)
- Have an individual with a documented medical condition
- Have a disconnect notice or had service shut off
- Are trying to establish new service on their electric bill.