August, 2020
POLICY UPDATES
ODSA and Electric Utilities Announce PIPP Policies During the Pandemic       

The Ohio Development Services Agency (ODSA) issued a notice to agencies on Monday announcing its decision to delay the enforcement of income reverification requirements for the Percentage Income Payment Plan until January 1, 2020, at which point it will begin dropping people from PIPP for failure to reverify. ODSA commits to reviewing the decision in December and may adjust the date based on the situation consumers are then facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This clearly benefits our clients, particularly those that are homebound because of illness or susceptibility to COVID-19. It will also affect relatively few existing clients because most will reverify when they apply for a WCP or regular HEAP payment.


OPAE Legislative Agenda – Carryover Funds Unspent Because of COVID-19

COVID-19 forced us to take our weatherization staff and contractors out of the field for about 6 months, and agencies are still slowly recovering momentum. It was important not to risk clients and staff, though most agencies continued to provide HVAC repairs and other emergency services during the suspension of services. All the utilities authorized emergency services, as did ODSA.

Spring and summer are the highest production periods for the program, so we lost a lot of units. This is leading to carry over in a number of utility programs.
Heard of HB 6, the Nuclear Bailout, or Do You Live in a Cave?

$63 million to pass legislation to force ratepayers to fork over $1.5 billion to hedge funds and merchant banks. Sounds like a scandal to me. You would imagine legislators would be rushing to repeal the outrage, especially those who voted for it. And you would be wrong, sort of
WIN LUNCH FOR YOUR AGENCY
Stories, case studies and client letters are great ways to share how our role in Ohio communities positively impacts families.

SO SHARE YOUR SUCCESSES!
Each month, we will reward the agency that submits the most content for sharing with a free office lunch. Winners will be announced in subsequent e-newsletters.
CONGRATULATIONS TO NOCAC FOR SUBMITTING A WHOPPING 13 CLIENT TESTIMONIALS! NOCAC IS THIS MONTH'S $50 WINNER.

And thank you to all the other members who provided content.
PROGRAM UPDATES
STAY INFORMED OF OHIO UTILITY COVID-19 TRANSITION PLANS
We've published a webpage that provides all the details of Ohio's utility program restarts including disconnection notices, fees and financial aid.
WEATHERIZE OHIO UPDATE
WE REGRET TO INFORM OUR MEMBERS AND PARTNERS THAT WEATHERIZE OHIO HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR 2020 DUE TO ONGOING PANDEMIC. PLEASE SAVE OCTOBER 20 & 21, 2021 FOR WEATHERIZE OHIO 2021 IN COLUMBUS.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Ashtabula County Community Action Agency
How Ashtabula County Community Action Agency's Head Start Was a Beacon of Hope for One Family

Head Start has been an absolute Godsend to our family, and specifically our girls, for so many reasons. The biggest and most recent reason was how instruction, communication with families, and connection were created and maintained during this Covid-19 season.
RESOURCES
PUCO Approves Winter Reconnect Order
On clean energy, New Jersey can serve as a model for recovery
This Month in History:
The Launch of the War On Poverty

(Courtesy of National Community Action Foundation)
MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
  • Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) Delaware County coalition focuses on ‘complex’ issue of affordable housing READ MORE >>>

  • East Akron Neighborhood Development Corporation (EANDC) team had a great time touring the I Promise Village today. The LeBron James Family Foundation team is doing amazing work to create a village for families.LEARN MORE >>>