{"id":11222,"date":"2025-04-16T15:56:46","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T15:56:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/?p=11222"},"modified":"2025-04-16T15:57:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T15:57:03","slug":"step-forward-encourages-cuyahoga-county-residents-to-utilize-year-round-energy-assistance-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/laprensanewspaper.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/16\/step-forward-encourages-cuyahoga-county-residents-to-utilize-year-round-energy-assistance-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Step Forward Encourages Cuyahoga County Residents to Utilize Year-Round Energy Assistance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Cleveland, April 2025: <\/strong>As uncertainty continues to ripple through communities affected by federal layoffs and economic instability, Step Forward is urging Northeast Ohio residents to recognize the vital role of energy assistance programs like the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) in keeping families safe, healthy, and housed.<\/p>\n

This past Winter Crisis Season alone, Step Forward provided more than $586,000 in utility assistance to help over 1,700 individuals and families across Cuyahoga County stay warm and avoid shut-offs, many of whom were facing job loss, medical emergencies, or other financial challenges.”<\/p>\n

While the Winter Crisis Program has ended for the season, Step Forward reminds residents that help doesn\u2019t stop there. The Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP+) is available year-round and designed to offer long-term stability for income-eligible households. By paying a fixed percentage of their monthly income toward gas and electric bills, customers enrolled in PIPP+ can avoid spikes in utility costs. And when payments are made on time and in full, any remaining balance may be forgiven.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is true that Ohio\u2019s emergency winter assistance program is now closed, but annual benefits for HEAP are still being processed,\u201d said Jackie Boehnlein, Step Forward\u2019s Vice President of Community Services. \u201cThe people we help, largely, are working in low-wage jobs. Many, especially now, are finding themselves unexpectedly laid off. What are you supposed to do when you are working or cannot find work and the cost of everyday living keeps spiraling higher?\u201d<\/p>\n

To qualify for PIPP+, households must be at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (for example, $52,500 annually for a family of four) and receive service from a regulated electric or natural gas provider in Ohio. Applications for PIPP+ \u2014 and other energy assistance programs \u2014 can be submitted online at energyhelp.ohio.gov<\/a>, or by mailing a completed application to Energy Assistance Programs, P.O. Box 1240, Columbus, OH 43216.<\/p>\n

For more information about available energy assistance programs, visit stepforwardtoday.org<\/a> or call (216) 350-8008.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cleveland, April 2025: As uncertainty continues to ripple through communities affected by federal layoffs and economic instability, Step Forward is urging Northeast Ohio residents to recognize the vital role of energy assistance programs like the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) in keeping families safe, healthy, and housed. This past Winter Crisis Season alone, Step Forward<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5817,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_rtcl_gb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,5],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[253],"class_list":["post-11222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-ohio"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t