As the darker days and colder months approach, income-eligible Ohioans can receive one-time assistance with their home energy bills through a partnership between The Breathing Association and the Ohio Department of Development’s Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program (HEAP) through March 31.
The program assists Ohioans facing service disconnection in the winter months. Qualifying households must have a gross annual income at or below 175% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that is $54,600.
For some, the looks like help with a Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)payment or a subsidized energy bill through the department of development.
Before Dr. Iyaad Hasan moved to Columbus two years ago to work as The Breathing Association’s COO and vice president of operations, he earned his nursing doctorate from Case Western Reserve University and traveled the world. Before that, he said he was a HEAP kid himself growing up in Cleveland.
“I am a HEAP child, and I grew up on HEAP for so many years, so I knew exactly what it meant. Of course, I knew about the clinical side too, and it’s about my passion to help the underserved,” he said.
Hasan said The Breathing Association is working to remove barriers to health that people tend to have through the energy assistance program.
“Energy insecurity or utility insecurity is tough, because if I don’t have gas or electric and have a chronic disease, say diabetes, high blood pressure, and I have a family with children in the house, it’s going to take a toll on me. So, it’s not just about the utilities, it’s also about the idea of taking care of your overall health,” Hasan said.
“If I can’t pay my utilities and I’m a diabetic, and I know I need to take diabetic medications, I will probably not use my money to buy my diabetes meds, but instead use it to pay my utilities, because I have to survive.”
Last year, the program assisted nearly 77,000 households in Ohio, providing a total of $23.5 million in benefits.
“When temperatures drop this winter, no one should have to worry about if they can afford to keep their home warm,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development.
Individuals can start their application online, but they must schedule an appointment with their local energy assistance provider to complete the application. The application and list of providers can be found online at energyhelp.ohio.gov.