Around the WSOS four-county service area, 437 households have been approved to receive assistance to pay
their heating bills in December 2013 through the Winter Crisis Program, formerly called EHEAP.
This number is 65 households more than the 372 served for the same time last year and the total amount of
dollars spent to assist residents in December 2013 is $141,894.
The income limits this year to receive assistance through this program is 175 percent of the federal
poverty guidelines. This means that households with one person should earn no more than $5,026 for a
two-person household or $10,303 for a four-person household in a 90-day period.
EHEAP provides one-time assistance to income-eligible residents to help them maintain their heating
source by paying some of their heating bills. These households receive up to $175 one time to pay
regulated utilities, $350 for wood, $450 for non-regulated utility companies and up to $750 for those
who use propane and have less than 25% left in the tank.
To date, the number of people who have been approved for assistance to pay their heating bills since the
program started Nov. 1 is 934, compared to 745 for the same period in 2012. In December, the number
served in Wood County was 113 residents for a total of $38,447.
Residents who have shut off notices receive assistance with heating bills through the Winter Crisis
Program while assistance for those who do not have shut off notices is available through regular HEAP.

WSOS will also assist with re-verifying PIPP plus customers. These customers must re-verify their status
with the heating source each year. About 558 PIPP customers were re-verified in December.
Appointments are required to apply for assistance through EHEAP. To make an appointment, call
1-888-441-4327.