The Summit County Cares program has ended.
Please contact 2-1-1 for Housing and Utility Assistance.
Contact OhioMeansJobs at 330.633.1050 for
employment assistance.

 

I've applied, what's next? (FAQs)

 

Thank you for submitting an application to Summit County Cares. If you provided an email address, you will receive an email confirmation from staffprograms@uwsummitmedina.org with your application number. Please keep this number for your records and if you need to contact us about your case. If you are concerned that your application was not submitted, you may email summitcountycares@uwsummit.org or call 2-1-1.

 

All applications received prior to October 28, by 11:59 p.m., will be reviewed for eligibility. We have received a high volume of applications, so we appreciate your patience. In the meantime, please review frequently asked questions below.

 

1. What are my next steps?

Let your landlord know that you have applied for Summit County Cares. Once your application is assigned to one of our partner agencies, a case manager will reach out to determine your eligibility for the program. The following documents will be required from you to process your application:

• Photo ID for the primary applicant
• Income documentation for all adult household members. A copy of the 2021 tax return for each adult is preferred, but if that is not available, the household must provide the last 30 days of income for every adult.

 

2. How will I be contacted?

Case managers or program staff will reach out to you by email and/or phone. We encourage you to set up your voicemail box and make sure you are checking both your email and your voicemail messages regularly. You should also check your spam box for messages.

 

Please note that our partner agency staff will be using their agency email addresses when they contact you. They will not be emailing you from gmail, yahoo, hotmail, or icloud accounts. Be cautious about sending personally identifiable information to anyone requesting sensitive information from an email account that does not appear to belong to a local organization. If you are suspicious about the person contacting you, call the agency directly, call 2-1-1,  or email summitcountycares@uwsummit.org for verification.

 

3. How long will it take to process my application?

Due to the high number of applications to Summit County Cares, it may take anywhere from one month to several months to process your application. Priority will be given to households with a court ordered eviction notice, income below 50% of the Area Median Income (AMI), and households in which one or more persons in the household is unemployed and have not been employed for the last 90 days.

 

4. What if my landlord threatens me with an eviction?

If your landlord threatens to file an eviction, let them know that you have applied for assistance through Summit County Cares and send them your confirmation email as back-up. You may also refer them to the program website at SummitCountyCares.org to learn more about the program. If your landlord files an eviction in court, email summitcountycares@uwsummit.org with the court summons and the court date so we can refer your case to Community Legal Aid.

 

5. What if I get a shut off notice for my utility?

Call your utility company and let them know that you applied for assistance through Summit County Cares. They may put a courtesy hold on your account. If the utility company does not put a hold on the shut off and you have a specific shut off date, please email summitcountycares@uwsummit.org with your name and application number, the name of the utility, your account number, and the name of the person on the bill.

 

6. Will I be notified if my application for assistance is denied?

If your application is denied, you will be notified by email and provided an explanation. If you believe the denial was in error, you will be given the opportunity to appeal your denial.

 

7. What other resources are available to assist my household?

If you are unemployed or your hours have been cut, please take advantage of services through OhioMeansJobs Summit County. They offer free job finding, resume writing, and job training assistance. Visit their website at SummitOMJ.org or call them at 330-633-1050.

 

United Way of Summit & Medina offers free financial coaching and can help you create a budget, reduce your debt, improve your credit, or file taxes to get access potential tax credits. Visit uwsummit.org/FEC or call 2-1-1 to schedule an appointment.