Ashtabula County assistance programs

Find assistance with bills and expenses.

One organization to turn to is the Ashtabula County Community Action Agency. Call them at (440) 997-1721. They have grants and funds that can be used to pay heating bills. Two options are the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the Winter Crisis Program (WCP). These programs will help even more Ashtabula County residents this year as the program has expanded. The eligible income level for HEAP assistance is now 200 percent of the national income poverty guidelines, which is up from a 175 percent level that was in effect last year.

The Winter Crisis Program provides a one-time cash grant payment per heating season for gas or electric utilities. Or the grant can be used to pay for the delivery of propane, wood, heating fuel oil or kerosene to households when a customer’s gas or electric service has been disconnected; the customer has less than a 25 percent supply of bulk fuel; or a customer has received a final disconnect notice.

If you make appointment, you can also delay your utility service from being disconnected. As once an appointment is made via the automated call in number above, the utility disconnection will be suspended as long as the customer submits the account number for the utility company. So this will provide you more time to apply for aid and get your bill paid off.

Another place that can help is the Salvation Army Jefferson Service Unit. It offers county residents a variety of assistance and ways to get help with bills. The Jefferson Unit has seen an unprecedented number of individuals and families who need emergency funds to help with paying a variety of bills, including medical bills, prescription costs, medicines, clothing and they even offer a used appliance replacement program.

Anyone who applies for, and tries to receives assistance of any kind from the Salvation Army will be screened for residency and income, and they must also meet various criteria that is based upon certain income levels.