As Butler County`s community action agency, Supports to Encourage Low-income Families (SELF) exists to enhance the quality of life for county residents by impacting the causes of poverty and empowering individuals to achieve, sustain, and advocate self-sufficiency.

The Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency (CAA) is a private, non-profit organization that has served as a lifeline for low-income children, adults and families throughout Hamilton County for more than four decades. The agency provides a safety net for those who have fallen and a ladder for those who are climbing. Delivering a seamless system of services, CAA and its 300 employees provide assistance with employment, supportive services, home energy efficiency, early childhood education, housing and youth programs.

The Supportive Services program assists individuals in emergency situations
to help them obtain the resources they need.

It provides:

• Bus tokens for individuals who come to our offices for services
• Case management services
• Voucher for lifeline telephone assistance
• Food vouchers
• Rental and mortgage payment assistance
• Water bill payment assistance

It also provide assistance in obtaining:

• Birth certificates
• Police checks
• Prescribed medications
• Referrals for other social services, such as assistance with
  prescription eye glasses and eye exams
• State Identification cards

Supportive Services also refers clients to other CAA services, such as Employment Services, GED classes, Ex-Offender Fresh Start Program, Head Start, Blueprint for Success, and the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

Clermont County Community Services provides essential services to its clients to assist them in reaching self-sufficiency and improving their quality of life. CCCS also provides information and services for weatherization and home repair services for older adults. 

Clinton County Community Action Program is a contracted service provider for Council on Aging offering the following services:

• home-delivered meals
• independent living assistance
• medical transportation
• homemaking
• congregate meals
• recreation
• supportive services,
• transportation

Food Pantry

The Community Action Food Pantry is a free service to help families/individuals that are struggling to put food on the table. The service provides applicants with a three day supply of food including, meats, vegetables, and fruits. Each household is eligible one time per month for this service and must be a resident of Clinton County.

Here are the Items needed to apply:

• Picture ID
• Proof of income for the entire household
• Proof of address (something that has been mailed to you within the last 30 days that has your name and address on it, ie. current bill.)

Clients must bring these three items every time they apply for the service.

Congregate Meal Information

Congregate Meals are provided at the Wilmington Senior Center located at 717 N. Nelson Road.  Meals are offered Monday thru Friday at 11:30 am.  Please call 937-382-7170 for more information.

Weatherization

Weatherization is a free service to those who qualify. It is a program designed to make homes more energy efficient. The goal is to create an energy efficient environment that not only is conserving energy, but doing so with health and safety being top priority.

HEAP

A household applying for HEAP must report total gross household income for the past 12 months for all members, except wage or salary income earned by dependent minors under 18 years old.  Both homeowners and renters are eligible for assistance.

For more information on Heating Assistance please call Debbie Schalk at 937-382-1234.

Housing

The Clinton Community Action Agency (CCAA) helps to ensure individuals/families are given the opportunity to live in affordable housing. Since 1995 CCAA has been involved in building housing designed to help lower income individuals/families have affordable places to live. Such housing is geared toward people who do not make enough money for market rate rent but make too much for subsidized housing.

Senior Housing

Senior Housing is available in three different complexes.

• Community Commons
  Is off of Nelson Ave in Wilmington and has two and three bedrooms for seniors age 62 and older.
• Clinton Commons I
  Is off Thorne Avenue in Wilmington and has all three bedrooms units for seniors age 55 and older
• Clinton Commons II
  Is also off Nunn Ave in Wilmington all of which are two bedroom units for senior adults age 55 and older

Rent includes water, trash and sewage and washer /dryer hook ups are available in every unit.

For more information contact Clinton County Community Action Agency at (937)-382-8886.

1. FAITH Ministries is a cooperative partnership among seven local churches, United Way of Warren County, Kiwanis to provide emergency relief for persons and families in need .
2. FAITH Ministries is open to meet with persons in our office inside Mason United Methodist Church from 1:00pm to 3:00 pm each Thursday.  We are closed on Thanksgiving Day or when Christmas Day or Christmas Eve falls on Thursday.
3. Emergency support is available for food, rent, utilities (water, gas, electricity, propane, fuel oil), and prescription medications.
4. FAITH Ministries serves Mason and Deerfield Township (and Shadow Lake Trailer Park, which is in the Lebanon School District).
5. Clients must have a letter or bill stating the of date of utility shut-off or eviction including the name of the client, mailing address, and phone number of the provider/landlord.
6. Food assistance is available for clients who are currently receiving Food Stamp benefits.
7. Clients must come in person with picture identification, like a driver’s license, showing current resident address.  if the driver’s license has an old address, then bring a recent bill showing the current address.
8. If client is currently receiving Food Stamps they should bring in the paperwork that shows they are currently receiving benefits.
9. Client must fill out a FAITH financial assistance statement including
o Full Name
o Current resident address
o Telephone Number
o Summary of the monthly income and expenses
 

Hamilton County Helping Working Families website helps connect families to resources to help with tough economic times. Use this website to help save money, help with prescription drugs cost, child care, and help connect you to job opportunities and job training.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency's Office of Community Assistance (OCA). It is designed to help eligible low-income Ohioans meet the high costs of home heating. If you are eligible for assistance, the amount of your one-time HEAP benefit wilI depend on federal funding levels, how many people live with you, total household income, and the primary fuel you use to heat your home. In most cases, the one-time benefit will be a credit applied to your energy bill by your utility company (or fuel vendor).   HEAP is available from November through March, or until funds are depleted. The Summer Cooling Crisis Program begins July 1.  For a HEAP application, call Council on Aging, 513-721-1025.

Emergency Heap (EHEAP)

This program provides assistance to households which have had their utilities disconnected, face the threat of disconnect, or have 10 or fewer days supply of bulk fuel. It allows a one-time payment of up to $200 per heating season to restore or retain home heating services.

Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus

PIPP Plus is an extended payment arrangement that requires regulated gas and electric companies to accept payments based on a percentage of the household income for customers whose monthly countable income is at or below 150 percent of the current federal poverty guidelines. Under PIPP Plus, if you heat with gas, you pay 6 percent of your monthly household income to your gas company and 6 percent to your electric company. If you heat with electricity, you pay 10 percent of your monthly household income. The Community Action Agency or utility company will inform you of your PIPP Plus installment. Once you are enrolled in the program, you must pay your installment every month in full and on time.

Visit the Ohio Department of Development Web site for more information about these programs.

A Web site featuring kinship resources for Ohio "kin caregivers."   The Web site is hosted by Public Children Services Association of Ohio. For more information regarding available services and County contacts download the Ohio Kinship Care GuideBook: http://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/num/JFS%2008146/pdf/

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) urges qualifying low-income residents to apply for Lifeline Telephone Assistance. Lifeline Assistance makes basic local telephone service more affordable for income-eligible families across Ohio. Those who qualify could receive discounts for monthly telephone bills and/or installation costs of telephone service. And now, some wireless companies offer Lifeline discounts.

You may qualify for Lifeline if your household income is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or if you participate in one of the following programs:

• Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/ Food Stamps
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance/Section 8
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) /Ohio Works First
• National School Free Lunch Program
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

A Lifeline eligibility pre-screening tool is available at www.lifelinesupport.org. You can also obtain an application by calling Council on Aging 513-721-1025.

Lifeline benefits may be applied to only one type of service – landline or wireless – and are limited to one line per household. Customers receiving lifeline benefits must also re-verify their eligibility annually. Other restrictions may apply.

Eligible low-income customers receive a monthly discount of $9.25 on basic local landline telephone service, waiver of installation charges, waiver of deposit fees, optional toll blocking at no charge and optional 900/976 blocking at no charge. Wireless carrier plans also include a $9.25 monthly discount for qualified customers. Contact your local landline or wireless phone company at the numbers listed here and ask to apply for Lifeline.

If you have any questions or have a complaint about Lifeline, please contact the PUCO at (800) 686-7826.

Click here for a list of telephone utility providers that offer Lifeline Assitance.

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries is a contracted provider of Council on Aging offering the following services:

• homemaking
• personal care services

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries is a multi-purpose human services agency, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy.

Caregiver Training

Mercy Neighborhood Ministries provides ongoing training, employment, and retention support for women and men striving to attain self-sufficiency by working as home care aides. These individuals then give back to others by providing compassionate home care for impoverished older adults suffering from infirmity and/or loneliness in their inner-city neighborhoods. 

Senior Programs

Advocacy for seniors 60 years and older living in 45206 and 45207 zip codes consisting of:

• Assistance with budgeting and writing monthly checks
• Assistance with understanding paperwork from government agencies, doctors, etc.
• Accompany to appointments at Social Security office, doctors, etc., in order to help understand individual situation and assist with recertification
• Place phone calls to agencies to access situation
• Assist with fill out paperwork

Crisis Assistance - Hours Monday through Thursday 9am-11:30am:

• Assist with paying rent, utilities or medications if criteria met
• Food Pantry - food bag to feed one person for three days
• Monthly Special "Pantry Day" held the third Tuesday of each month which includes blood pressure check and health assessment with van transportation
• Benefit Bank / Income Tax Filing

Prevention of Social Isolation:

• Telephone visits
• Spiritual visits and regular home visits
• Activities such as Birthday and Christmas parties
• Birthday card delivery

Grandparent Support Group:

• Monthly meeting for grand parents raising their grand children facilitated by licensed social worker

Education Services

• ABLE/GED classes
• Basic computer education
• Workplace & Life Skills Training

Referrals

If you know someone who could benefit from our services, please make a referral by contacting Mary Lou Wolf at mlwolf@mnministries.org. Or by calling her at 513.751.2500 Ext. 215.

Beginning in August 2019, MSD will offer a Customer Assistance Program (CAP) to help low-income senior citizens pay their sewer bills.

Eligible applicants will receive a 25% discount on their monthly sewer bill (including both the minimum base charge and the commodity charge). The estimated annual savings is $120 or more per year.

A sewer discount can only be offered to low-income seniors who meet specific eligibility requirements related to age, income, and home ownership. The eligibility requirements for the CAP are:

• - 65 years of age or older
• - Own and live in the residence for which they are paying the MSD sewer bill
• - Ohio Adjusted Gross Income (OAGI) of no more than $38,600 for 2023. This applies to the combined income of the applicant and their spouse.

The Ohio Grandparent Kinship Coalition (OGKC) is an organization across Ohio which assists caregivers taking care of children other than their own when the parents are unwilling or unable to care for them. The OGKC is an organization consisting of kinship caregivers, kinship caregiver advocates and agencies throughout Ohio.

OGKC Purpose:

•     Educate kinship caregivers and agencies regarding state and national programs /issues affecting kinship caregivers
•     Advocate at local, state and national levels for support of kinship families
•     Provide a networking system for caregivers and agencies
•     Link caregivers with services in their communities
•     Connect new kinship care programs with speaker’s bureau
•     Conduct statewide conferences

Many of us are forced to make tough decisions every day about paying bills, buying food, accessing medical care, and stretching our household budgets. The Ohio Benefit Bank is designed to make it simpler for Ohioans to connect with programs and resources that can make those decisions a little bit easier. From any computer with Internet access, you can use the online service to complete applications for programs like food assistance, child care assistance, health coverage, and much more.

**Temporary warming shelters available by contacting 2-1-1 for Butler, Clermont, Clinton, and Warren counties**

2-1-1 can be accessed by phone or computer. A toll-free call to 2-1-1 connects you to a community resource specialist in your area who can put you in touch with local organizations that provide critical services that can improve—and save—lives. You’ll find information about:

• supplemental food and nutrition programs
• shelter and housing options and utilities assistance
• emergency information and disaster relief
• employment and education opportunities
• services for veterans
• health care, vaccination and health epidemic information
• addiction prevention and rehabilitation programs
• reentry help for ex-offenders
• support groups for individuals with mental illnesses or special needs
• a safe, confidential path out of physical and/or emotional domestic abuse

Whether in times of natural disaster or personal crisis, 2-1-1 is committed to being the first, most essential resource to anyone who needs help.

The Mission of Warren County Children Services is to serve families in need and protect children who are abused, neglected, or dependent through collaboration with our partners and the support of the community.

Contact the Program Director at 513.233.4806 or visit http://www.co.warren.oh.us/ChildrenServices/Care/Default.aspx for information about how and when to report suspected child abuse, adoption and foster care.     

Warren County Community Services, Inc. is a contracted provider of Council on Aging offering the following services:

• home-delivered meals (including therapeutic meals)
• medical transportation
• non-medical transportation
• congregate meals
• recreation
• supportive services

Other services:

WCCS Aging Services are dedicated to assisting older adults and their family members. WCCS provides social services, health monitoring, medication assistance, and supportive services that help Warren County older adults remain at home and as independent as possible. Services include care management, meals on wheels, transportation, housing, nutrition and utility bill assistance.

Call Aging Services for more information:
Lebanon & Surrounding Areas: 513-695-2239
Cincinnati/Butlerville/Maineville: 513-925-2239
Dayton/Franklin/Springboro: 937-425-2239
Middletown: 513-261-2239
Blanchester: 937-783-4993, ext. 2239

Transportation

WCCS provides transportation to Warren County residents age 60 or older. Transportation is within Warren County and into all bordering counties. Operates from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. Reservations required.  Medical and non-medical transportation available.

More information By Phone:

Lebanon & Surrounding Areas  513-695-2222
Cincinnati/Butlerville/Maineville  513-925-2222
Dayton/Franklin/Springboro  937-425-2222
Middletown  513-261-2222
Blanchester  937-783-4993 ex. 2222

HEAP

Winter Crisis Program
The Winter Crisis Program provides assistance to eligible households that are disconnected, threatened with disconnection of their primary or secondary heating source, or have less than a ten day supply of bulk fuel. Eligible clients may receive assistance once per heating season.

Summer Crisis Program
The Summer Crisis Program provides financial assistance to eligible seniors, age 60 or older, on their electric bill. Call in June to see when the Summer Crisis Program begins.

Call the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) for more information and appointments:

Call: 513-970-6737
Available 24 hours/7 days a week in all areas.

Congregate Meal are offered Monday thru Friday at the following locations.

• Station Hill Apartments- Lebanon
• Sherman Glen Apartments-Franklin
• Earl J Maag Apartments- Morrow
• Union Village Apartments- South Lebanon
• The 741 Center-Lebanon