Lucas County assistance programs.

Find grants, resources, and other ways to get assistance with expenses and costs

The Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo, Inc. (EOPA) is a non-profit community action agency that offers residents several resources and services that can provide people help with their bills. Some of the programs they offer include those listed below. However, the list is not all inclusive, so contact them to learn more or apply for any of these programs. In addition, the Salvation Army of Northwest Ohio is another organization that may be able to aid you.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

This is a federally funded, energy assistance program that is administered by the Ohio Department of Development, Office of Community Service (OCS). It’s main goal is to help eligible low and moderate income Ohioans meet the high costs of paying for their home heating bills. If you apply and are determined to be eligible for assistance from this program, the amount of your one-time HEAP cash grant will depend on federal government funding levels, the applicants household income, how many people live with you, and also the primary fuel source that you use to heat your home. In most cases, the one-time cash grant or benefit provided to you will be a credit applied to your energy bill that is provided to you by your fuel vendor or utility company.

Winter Crisis Program

The applicant must have received a shut off notice from the utility company, or the shutoff notice must be imminent. If someone applies for a crisis grant, the households can receive up to $175 for regulated utilities. In addition, households who are interested in aid must also enroll on a payment plan before receiving the benefit. Applicants need to be aware that the one time $175 cash grant will stop disconnection, restoration, or transfer of services on both utility and heating bills.

Columbia Gas TCO Funds

Home Energy Bill Assistance Program helps Ohio families meet the cost of rising home heating bills. They are offered by the community action agency.

 

 

 

The Senior Emergency Housing Repair Program

This program was designed to assist low to moderate income adults who are aged 62 years or older, and aid is also available for the disabled. The program will provide emergency repairs to their homes. All updates and improvements are free of charge to the homeowner.

Contact the Economic Opportunity Planning Association of Greater Toledo, Inc. at 505 Hamilton Street, Toledo, OH 43604, or call them at (419) 242-7304.

Emergency assistance for bills, housing, medical needs, and more

Pathstone Corporation - This non-profit agency offers limited one time emergency assistance with prescriptions, rent expenses, utilities, food aid, transportation and other approved needs. Dial (800) 733-6436. Read more.

Sylvania Area Family Services may from time to time have very limited utility and rental assistance for people in Sylvania Ohio. (419) 882-8415.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo. They run a program known as Family Emergency Guidance. It can provide Mortgage or Rental Assistance, and one 1 time assistance may be available for families or individuals facing a potential foreclosure of their home or eviction. Phone (419) 244-6711.

Toledo Ohio based Christ the King Church may have limited funds for Rent, Utility Assistance, Heating and Mortgage Assistance. Agency funding varies at times, based on funding available, so call early. Dial (419) 475-4348.

Qualified individuals may receive assistance up to once per year from Helping Hands of St. Louis Church. A maximum of $100 is provided. Receive help with preventing evictions, utility and heating service disconnect notices, and even receive some furniture when funds are available from the church. Phone (419) 691-0613.

This agency may not have financial assistance, but they offer other programs. Monroe Street Neighborhood Center provides debt management, clothes for a new job, employment and job finding services, and computer classes. Dial (419) 473-1167.

Locate further information on how to get Toledo Ohio rent assistance, including details on agencies that operate across the county.

Foreclosure and general free legal aid

Low income, the elderly, and disabled can receive free legal advice from Legal Aid of Western Ohio ((419) 255-0814). they can help Toledo area homeowners prevent a foreclosure, deal with utility disconnections, advise on consumer debt and predatory lending, deal with government programs such as unemployment, and more. Ohio also has predatory lending laws, such as for payday loans. Learn more.

 

 

Lucas County Ohio Housing assistance, mortgage help, and home improvements

Neighborhood Housing Services of Toledo, which can be reached at (419) 691-2900, offers housing programs such as weatherization, foreclosure prevention, on information on various Ohio mortgage and foreclosure assistance programs.

Programs to get out of debt and prevent foreclosures

St. Stephen Lutheran Church teaches budgeting, debt management, offers foreclosure counseling, and financial planning services. (419) 885-1551.

Apprisen Financial Advocates - Consumer Credit Counseling Services offers debt management plans, ways to waive fees and reduce interest rates, and access foreclosure counseling programs. Phone (800) 355-2227.

Community Credit Counseling Specialists helps Toledo and Lucas County homeowners and consumers with assistance. They provide Bankruptcy Assistance, Credit Counseling and Repair, Debt Management, Personal Finances/Budget Counseling. Learn more on bankruptcies. Phone number (888) 662-3313.

Health care

The following community clinics and medical providers offer a wide variety of medical and health care. The amount of someone’s bill will usually be on a sliding fee scale, which is their total household income. The programs usually focus on the low and people without health insurance.

• Western Lucas County Clinic - Lucas County Health Department. (419) 213-4018. Located in Holland Ohio.
• Neighborhood Health Association of Toledo - Medical care, and dental assistance examinations, pharmacy, and WIC is offered. (419) 255-7883
• Toledo-Lucas County Health Department - This center focuses on adults. Access exams and general care. Dial (419) 213-4060.
• Or locate a more extensive Lucas County clinic listing.

Thrift store and food pantry

The following may be able to provide groceries, fruit, access to a food pantry, clothing, household items, or more. Church Women United Thrift Shop (phone (419) 865-2300), Olivet Lutheran Church (call (419) 882-2077), Christian Community Church ((419) 536-8357), Friendly Center (dial (419) 243-1280), and also Mustard Seed Outreach Ministries ((419) 727-1800). Find additional Lucas County food pantries.

Utility Bill Assistance from Salvation Army of Northwest Ohio

The Salvation Army is another place to turn to for help. Each year they distribute tens of thousands of dollars in aid. Also, this year the Salvation Army was awarded $65,000 in federal government stimulus money so they will have more funds to distribute. They provide assistance whether it's your electric, gas, water or heating bill, and help those who are facing a shut off notice. While the Salvation Army won't pay your entire bill, but they will get your service back up for at least 30 days so you have some time to get further aid or pay the bill off.

In addition, you may be able to receive rent help, or medical bill assistance, as the Salvation Army assists families all year long with a variety of different expenses, and they offer numerous programs and resources to low income and struggling families. Call them at (419) 241-2294.