Here are the programs in Virginia that provide fans, AC units, and electric bill credit – The Virginian-Pilot

The summer heat has Virginians looking for ways to cool off.

Different programs exist across the state to provide fans or air conditioning units to those who otherwise could not afford them.

A chilling assistance program is administered by the Virginia Department of Social Services. Eligible Virginians can access their website at commonhelp.virginia.gov/accesscall 855-635-4370 or contact their local department of social services.

More than 60,000 Virginians have applied for the program since it opened on June 15, according to the department. Applications will close on August 15. The department made over $38 million in cooling payments during this period, mostly in the form of $600 assistance for Dominion’s electricity bills to run fans and air conditioning units.

Eligible Virginians must have at least one person aged 60 or over, or a person living with a disability or a child under the age of 6. They must also have a household income at 150% of the federal poverty level for family size.

Another program aims to help only residents of the peninsula aged 60 and over.

“The demand this summer is much higher than last summer,” said Diane Hartley, vice president of care coordination for the Peninsula Agency On Aging. “Last summer, we were still distributing ventilators in September.”

The agency’s Senior Cool Care program is sponsored by Dominion Energy and aims to help senior residents who may be most at risk, according to the Centers for Disaster Control and Prevention.

Eligible residents must live in Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, Williamsburg, or York and James City counties and have a monthly income of less than $1,699 per month for one person and a two-person household must earn less than $2,289 .

By the end of June, the program had distributed nearly 100 ventilators and all of their more than half a dozen AC units, according to Hartley.

She said she knew there were about 30 fans left available and eligible adults could call 757-873-0541.

For this weekend, Portsmouth has announced the opening of “cooling stations” where water will be supplied from 10am to 5pm at Churchland Branch Library and Portsmouth Public Library and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Behavioral Healthcare Services Building at 1811 King Street today and tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Department of Social Services building at 1701 High Street.

Bottles of water have also been distributed to Norfolk libraries by the city for the public, according to their Facebook page.