By Joe Hallett

Jun. 7, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --

A year ago today, thousands of elderly and medically needy Ohioans escaped the 92-degree heat with some help from the government.

Today, many will have to sweat out the 89-degree forecast because the government doesn't have enough money to help them.

Deep budget cuts to Ohio's Home Energy Assistance Program mean that thousands of Ohioans will have to wait until July 1, a month longer than normal, to get the financial help they need to stay cool in dangerously hot weather.

"The federal funding was cut so we are starting the program later," said Kimber Perfect, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Development, which administers HEAP.

"We have less money for people and we won't be buying new air-conditioners to give to them," said Colette Harrell, chief director of the Breathing Association, one of two Franklin County agencies that handle HEAP funds.

Last year, about 56,000 elderly and medically needy Ohioans received one-time cash payments of $175 per household to help pay costs of cooling their homes; 22,309 of those recipients were given air-conditioners to keep.

This year, there is money to serve only about 25,000 people in the program. To stretch the dollars, the Development Department delayed starting the program for a month, slashed the allocation per household to $100, and bought no air-conditioners.

With temperatures forecast to hover around 90 into next week, Harrell said, the cuts will expose more members of already-fragile segments of Ohio's population to the risk of heat stroke, breathing problems and other ailments.

Melissa Vince, a department spokeswoman, said $2.5 million is available for heat relief through HEAP, about $7 million less than last year. Because of a harsh winter and high demand resulting from a poor economy, the department had to spend $3 million more than anticipated for the winter heating program. That money otherwise would have been available for the summer cooling program.

Harrell said the Breathing Association distributed HEAP funds to more than 2,000 people in Franklin County last summer and 1,067 of them received air-conditioners. Along with HEAP distributions from the Columbus/Franklin County Community Action Agency, Harrell estimated that more than 6,000 people in the county received HEAP aid last summer.

To receive HEAP funds, applicants must be 60 or older or present a prescription showing a medical need for heat relief, Harrell said. The Breathing Association will begin accepting applications for HEAP relief on June 17. Those interested can call 614-457-2997 to set up an appointment.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0147-25863153