Brutal cold and rate increases have combined to create higher heating bills this winter and Lorain County Community Action Agency (LCCAA) is seeing high demand for its Winter Crisis and other Energy Services programs.
Due to an extremely high volume of calls and applications this winter, LCCAA is experiencing longer response and processing times than usual, said Director of Planning and Community Services Tosha Craighead.
“Demand for assistance is very high right now, and our team is working quickly to support households across the region,” she said. “For residents facing disconnection or an urgent heating crisis, coming into the office is the fastest way to be seen and receive help.”
Winter Crisis is offered for residents who are without heat or threatened with disconnection. Applicants must be living at or below 175% of the federal poverty line. Crisis appointments can be scheduled at lccaa.secure.force.com/appointments for the following reasons:
- Heat has been disconnected;
- A disconnection notice has been received;
- You need to establish new service;
- You need to pay to transfer service;
- Bulk fuel users have less than a 10-day supply of wood, coal, pellets, propane or oil;
These emergency situations qualify for an appointment with LCCAA staff, which will be conducted over the phone.
Those with a pending disconnection notice must provide an account number during appointment scheduling to place a hold on the disconnection. The appointment must be at least 48 hours before the scheduled disconnection. Missing or rescheduling the appointment may result in disconnection.
In person services are being offered in three different locations this season:
- Seniors can walk in at the Lorain County Office on Aging in Elyria at 534 Abbe Road South Monday through Friday between 8 and 11 a.m. or between 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.
- Anyone can make an appointment to meet with an advocate at the Office on Aging’s Wellington location at 105 Maple St. on Fridays. Call 440-731-2640.
- Anyone can make an appointment to meet with an advocate at the El Centro Opportunity Center, 1825 E. 28th, Lorain on Fridays between 8 and 11 a.m. or between 1 and 3:30 p.m. Call 440-752-2051.
Secure drop boxes are available for required documents.
Required documentation includes:
- Income information for all household members 18 years of age or older for the last 30 days. For a complete list of countable income, please visit our website.
- Any member reporting “no income” must complete a no income form;
- Social Security numbers for all household members;
- Proof of citizenship for all household members;
- Most recent electric and gas bills;
Maximum benefits for Winter Crisis are:
- $175 for regulated gas and electric utilities
- $750 for unregulated gas and electric utilities
- $1,200 for bulk fuel, propane, heating oil or kerosene
- $650 for coal or wood
The program can also fund up to $1,500 in heating unit repairs or replacements.
If you do not have a disconnect notice but need help paying your bill, you may be eligible for the Home Energy Assistance Program. Applications for that program are taken through the state’s portal at energyhelp.ohio.gov. No appointment is needed. An Ohio ID is now required for creating an account on the state’s portal.
If you have questions about an existing application, you can also call 440-245-1870 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to speak with a representative. The lobby reception window at 936 Broadway Ave. in Lorain is open for questions as well.
No documents are accepted at the window. A weather-tight, secure document drop box is stationed at the agency’s rear lobby entrance. The box is checked hourly. Documents can also be faxed to 440-457-0337.
The program runs through March 31, 2026.