The Ohio Department of Development’s Summer Crisis Program offers a one-time benefit to eligible Ohioans who may be feeling the crunch of high energy bills because of the summer heat.
The program can also help homeowners with cooling units, such as box fans, AC units that need repair, or help them get air conditioning if they don't have it.
Ohio residents may qualify for the Summer Crisis Program based on their age, health condition, income level or financial situation.
Rachel Sheets is the community relations coordinator at Self Supports, the community action agency for Butler County. They serve roughly 6,000 families a year, and Sheets says the program can really make a difference for people who are struggling through the summer heat.
“This can really make or break not only their comfort, but whether or not they can be safe during these hot months. So it's just one less thing that somebody who's living in crisis has to worry about through this program," she said.
Sheets says Self Supports has helped 138 households with summer heat help just since the start of July.
The Summer Crisis Program runs through the end of September, and there are programs in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. You can find qualification guidelines at https://development.ohio.gov/is/is_heapsummer.htm
