2009 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Component

Cooling Program

This is to provide you with information regarding the 2009 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Component. Because the amount of funding is very limited, cooling assistance will be provided on a first come, first served basis. Households may apply beginning June 22, 2009 through August 31, 2009 or until the funds run out, whichever comes first.

To be eligible for cooling assistance, including installation of an air conditioner:

-a household must meet 2008-09 regular benefit HEAP income guidelines

-have at least one member that suffers from an acute medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat and is documented by a doctor

-and be in a living arrangement that has been designated eligible for cooling services.

The 2008-2009 HEAP eligibility approval notice can be used to prove cooling eligibility but the notice MUST be for REGULAR HEAP because EMERGENCY HEAP had a higher income limit. If an individual did not receive HEAP or is not housing-eligible for HEAP, the HEAP staff can still qualify the person's income eligibility for cooling equipment - in other words, the individual must be income eligible for HEAP but is not required to actually receive HEAP benefits.

The doctor's statement can be on a prescription pad - it does not need to be elaborate, but it must contain the wording shown below.

Non-homeowners in rental units are required to have written permission from the landlord for cooling equipment.

Medical-necessity cooling equipment is not designed to cool an entire dwelling; it is meant only to create a "cool zone". It is generally recommended that the cooling unit be placed in the area of the dwelling most used during the day when it is the hottest. Nights are cooler and body temperature is lower and an individual is less likely to become overheated while sleeping, so it is not recommended that the unit be placed in a bedroom unless the eligible individual is confined to that room. If a night is particularly hot people can generally sleep on a couch in the cool zone.

For more information on this, please contact Eldersource at 325-2800