News

Oct 30, 2025

Community Action Akron Summit can help income-eligible Summit County residents stay warm during the cold months through the Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program (HEAP Winter Crisis Program). Residents who qualify can get assistance paying energy bills or for eligible heating system repairs during winter.
 
The HEAP Winter Crisis Program, through the Ohio Department of Development and Community Action, runs from November 1, 2025, until March 31, 2026, or until funds are exhausted.
 
To apply for the program, residents must schedule an appointment with Community Action staff. Residents can schedule an appointment by calling 330-436-0261 or online at capappointments.com. 
 
The appointment line will open at 8 a.m., Friday October 31. The appointment line opens at 8 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Available appointments tend to fill quickly. Please follow the prompts, listen carefully to the instructions, and write down the confirmation number. Make sure you pay special attention to whether the appointment will take place in person or over the phone.
 
Applicants must have copies of the following documents for their appointments:

• Copies of most recent energy bills
• List of all household members with birth dates and Social Security numbers
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members (birth certificate or Social Security card)
• Proof of income for the last 30 days (12 months in some cases) for every household member age 18 and over
• If utility service is OFF, needs to be transferred, or a new account is being established, the client must call the utility company to get a pending account number.

 
Community Action has administered the HEAP Winter Crisis Program in Summit County since 1984. During the 2024-2025 season, 2,538 Summit County households received Winter Crisis assistance payments totaling more than $301,000. 
 
Eligible households can receive up to $175 if they are a client of a regulated utility, or $750 if they are a client of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The main heating source and/or related electric energy source must be either in disconnect status, have been terminated, need to establish new service, need to transfer service, have 25% (or less) of bulk fuel supply remaining, or heating unit repair/replacement is needed. Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines for households with up to seven members and 60% State Median Income (SMI) for households with eight or more members to qualify for assistance. For example, a family of four may have an annual gross countable income of up to $56,262.
 
An appointment no-show may result in utilities being shut off. 
 
HEAP officials emphasize that not all program participants will be eligible for the entire $175 because the actual amount depends on individual circumstances. A household can apply for HEAP Winter Crisis Program only once between November 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026.
 
For more information about the features of the HEAP Winter Crisis Program, contact Community Action at 330-253-8806, visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov, or text HEAP to 33030.