MIAMI VALLEY COMMUNITY ACTION

Energy assistance programs: the home energy assistance program provides a one-time emergency payment per season applied directly to the customer's utility or bulk fuel bill. The winter crisis program helps income-eligible customers threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected, or have less than a 25 percent supply of bulk fuel in their tank to maintain their utility service. The summer crisis program assists low-income households or those that have a disconnection notice, have been shut off, are trying to establish new service on their electric bill, require air conditioning, or those with an elderly household member (60 years or older) who can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for their health. Qualifying medical conditions can include lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and others. Income eligibility for both the winter and summer crisis programs is 175% of the federal poverty level. Percentage of income payment plan (pipp) is a program providing a reduced monthly energy payment for homeowners and renters based on a percentage of income for households with an income at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and have utility service from an electric or natural gas company regulated by the public utility commission of ohio. In 2024, approximately 21,005 households were served by these utility assistance programs.

Community services block grant programs: the community services block grant (csbg) program provides various services and activities for low-income individuals to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty. The program is designed to provide maximum flexibility to meet locally defined needs. Income eligibility for csbg programs is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline. Programs are provided in darke, greene, montgomery, and preble counties. They include emergency services (e.g., rent, utility, transportation, medical assistance, housing-focused shelter services), legal clinic, micro-enterprise business development and training, emergency home repair, home foreclosure, and first-time home buyer counseling, transitional and emergency housing, and tax credit property administration.