Cleveland non-profit extends water assistance program applications into 2023

CLEVELAND — The necessity for financial help is ever-growing throughout Northeast Ohio.

Between the hurdles of the pandemic and inflation, many individuals are struggling every day.

An area non-profit is working to satisfy the necessity and simply introduced it’s extending a vital water help program.

Step Ahead is now actively accepting purposes for his or her “Low Earnings Family Water Help Program”.

They really simply prolonged it till September of 2023 to satisfy the demand.

The state-run company, Low Earnings Family Water Help Program, or LIHWAP, helps eligible Cuyahoga County residents with their water and waste payments.

To date, it has given greater than $79,000 in help funds since final February.

The company is able to present extra funding to space residents.

To qualify for the water help program, residents have to be at or beneath 175% the federal poverty traces, have a disconnection discover, been disconnected, within the course of of building a brand new service or are paying to switch service.

“We have seen so many new purchasers over the previous six months to a 12 months which have by no means sought help earlier than. However due to the way in which issues are going, they’re now asking for assist. So we’re attempting to take away that stigma that if you happen to want help by way of certainly one of these packages, that it places you in a foul mild,” Mentioned Paul Billups, director of vitality help at Step Ahead.

For those who want help and wish to apply for Step Ahead’s water help program— purchasers should schedule an appointment by calling (216) 350-8008 or on-line at stepforward.itfrontdesk.com. Appointments can be found Monday by way of Friday from 8:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. Stroll-ins usually are not accepted.

Residents with scheduled appointments ought to submit their documentation not less than three days upfront of their appointment to obtain help on the time of appointment.

Documentation may be submitted to the Step Ahead drop field at 2203 Superior Avenue, by way of the web scheduler linked above, emailed to Heapdocuments@stepforwardtoday.org, or submitted on-line at energyhelp.ohio.gov.

Purchasers want to supply copies of the next paperwork for his or her appointment:
• Copies of their most up-to-date water/wastewater payments
• An inventory of all family members and proof of earnings for the final 30 days or 12 months for every member
• Proof of U.S. citizenship or authorized residency for all family members
• Proof of incapacity (if relevant)

For extra info, click on right here.