Winter Crisis Open Through March

posted 11/15/18 -- Winter heating assistance for residents who need help paying for heat or who have had their heat turned off will be available through March 31, 2019 at Lorain County Community Action Agency’s three locations.

To be eligible for help, residents must live at or below 175% of the federal poverty line.

LCCAA serves clients at three locations: the new office at 936 Broadway in downtown Lorain, our long-time office in the Wellington Village Hall, 115 Willard Memorial Square and a new satellite location at St Agnes Church, 611 Lake Ave., Elyria.

Residents who have received a disconnect notice are especially urged to call the HEAP hotline at 1-855-806-9620 to make an appointment. The automated line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Utility companies will hold your disconnect if you have made an appointment to determine your eligibility. However, your appointment must be no less than 48 hours before your disconnect is scheduled and you must keep your appointment to maintain that hold on your account. Rescheduling removes the hold and you may lose service.

At the Lorain office, walk-in hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are available all day long as well. The Wellington Office sees walk-ins only in the morning and by appointment in the afternoon. Wellington is only open on Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the crisis period.

The Elyria office is open on Mondays and Tuesdays with an emphasis on walk-ins. Walk ins are received on Mondays from 8 to 11 a.m. and all day on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are only available on Monday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m.

All sites are closed for lunch daily from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. You must be seated with an advocate within 45 minutes of closing to be seen.

LCCAA's automated appointment line includes a recorded message describing the documents needed for the appointment. Those needing to do so may also speak to a representative during regular office hours.

Last year, LCCAA directly helped more than 2,000 clients during the winter crisis period. The crisis period ends March 31, 2019.

The Winter Crisis Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency's Office of Community Assistance.