Eligible Summit County residents can receive help with paying their utility bill or buying an air conditioner or fan from July 1 to Sept. 30 through Community Action Akron Summit’s Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program (HEAP).

The program assists low-income households with members who either are 60 or older or can provide physician documentation that they need cooling assistance for their health. Households who have a disconnect notice, have been shut off, or are trying to establish new electric service may also be eligible for assistance.

Assistance amounts depend on federal funding, household numbers and income levels.

Benefits usually go directly toward the bill by the utility company, Community Action Akron Summit says on its website. Air conditioners and/or up to two fans are provided through vouchers and are delivered to the home for free.

“Households with a before-tax income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines may qualify for assistance,” the website reads. “For a family of four, the annual income must be at or below $52,500. Eligible households can receive up to $500 if they are a customer of a regulated utility, or $800 if they are a customer of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities.”

In the summer HEAP application, residents need to provide all relevant documentation, including copies of their most recent energy bills, renting information, detailed household member information, proof of U.S. citizenship, income information and any relevant proof of disabilities.

If a household only has people under 60 living there, a physical must document a need for cooling assistance, the news release said. Lack of required documentation will delay the assistance process.

“The HEAP summer program is important to the community because it supports the health, safety and stability of many community members, making it an essential resource for several local residents,” Scott Rainone, a communications representative, said in an email. “High temperatures can pose serious health risks. The HEAP summer program helps protect at-risk groups by ensuring they have access to cooling. Further, the program helps with access to basic utilities that are essential for maintaining a decent quality of life.

To apply for the program, which is run through the Ohio Department of Development, residents must schedule an appointment on capappointments.com or by calling 330-436-0261.

Community Action Akron Summit also offers a similar program, called Winter Crisis Program, during the colder months for income-eligible residents in need of help when paying for gas and utilities.

Among other services, it also works with the Ohio Department of Development throughout the year for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan, which assistants residents with gas and electric payment plans.

Reporter Isabella Schreck can be contact at ischreck@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Summit Co. residents can get AC, utility payment help starting July 1