The 2022 Winter Crisis Program runs from November 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. This program provides household’s with a once-per-heating season direct payment benefit to:

• Prevent a heating utility disconnection;
• Restore service to a disconnected heating utility;
• Transfer utility services to a new unit or address;
• Refill bulk fuel household’s tank, provided at the time of application, it is at 25% capacity or less.

The Winter Crisis Program, in conjunction with MVCAP’s Emergency Home Repair Program, can also assist households in paying for the repair of an existing furnace.

Winter Crisis Program Eligibility Requirements:

Households with a gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the Winter Crisis Program.Please see the chart on the right for more information.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that provides households at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines with a once-per-heating-season credit to their heating bill account. HEAP and Winter Crisis are different programs – HEAP provides a credit, deposited directly to a client account, sometime during the heating season. The Winter Crisis Program provides an immediate benefit, paid by MVCAP, to the client’s heating bill to prevent an impending disconnection, restore disconnected services, or assist with the transfer of services. All clients applying for utility assistance will have a HEAP application processed.