When temperatures and humidity soar, staying cool is not a luxury, but a necessity for health, safety and quality of life.  

Now through Friday, August 15, the Office of Community Services will accept Cooling Assistance applications as part of the Virginia Department of Social Services’ (VDSS) Energy Assistance Program.   

Assistance is available to households that include a child under age six, a disabled individual or an adult age 60 or over who meet income and eligibility requirements. To qualify for cooling assistance, the maximum gross monthly income for a one-person household is $1,127 before taxes and $2,297 for a household with four individuals. 

Cooling assistance can be used to assist families and individuals with:

• payment of electric bills up to $150 to operate cooling equipment;
• payment of security deposits for electricity to operate cooling equipment;
• repair of a central air conditioning system or heat pump;
• purchase of a whole-house fan, including ceiling or attic fans; and
• purchase and installation of one window unit air conditioner for households without one or with one that needs to be replaced.

The Energy Assistance Program (EAP) is funded by the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program block grant. Families and individuals must apply at the Department of Human Services, 2525 Mt. Vernon Ave., by August 15.  

For more information, call the Office of Community Services at 703.838.0901.