Utility Assistance

The Ohio Development Services Agency is now distributing $100 million in federal funding to help low-income Ohioans who do not own their own home: pay their rent, water, sewer, wastewater, electric, gas, oil and/or trash removal bills.
 
The state of Ohio, working with local Community Action Agencies, will help eligible Ohioans on rent, mortgage, and water and/or sewer utility bills catch up on past payments back to March 13, 2020, and provide additional assistance through December 31, 2021.
 
Eligible Ohio households must:  

• Be at or below 80% of their county’s Area Median Income (varies by county and size of household);
• Have experienced a financial hardship due to COVID-19; and
• Demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.  

The funding, which was approved by the Ohio Controlling Board for distribution, will be divided among Ohio’s 47 Community Action Agencies. Ohioans can apply for assistance by contacting their local Community Action Agency.

For more information and to find contact information for your local Community Action Agency visit: https://businesshelp.ohio.gov/home-relief-grant.html

ORWA recommends that all Water & Wastewater Utilities notify their customers with mounting bills of this opportunity to get caught up.