BOND HILL, Ohio -- There were hundreds of people in line Monday morning looking for help to keep their gas and electric from being disconnected.
It was the first day they could apply for help through the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency's Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program or HEAP.
Lakiecha Kinkade says she drove from Westwood to Bond Hill to get to the CAA offices before the doors opened for the first day of the program.
"To my surprise, it was probably over 200 people already here. They told me to come back at noon, so I went home and came back at noon, just to find out they told me to come tomorrow. Today, I'm just really sad about everything because today is my disconnect notice," Kinkade said as she returned to her car outside of the CAA Bond Hill office.
"When I first arrived here around 15 minutes till eight, cause they said be be here at 8 o'clock, walks-in only, to get help for my gas and electric, when I came here the line was all the way by the church," said LaKeacher Childers of North College Hill.
Mary Gray says some people were so desperate, they started pushing and shoving people in line.
"There was an altercation about ready to break out with a fight. I had to tell everybody it's not that serious, just calm down. Everybody will get the help that they need," Gray said.
CAA says this is the first time they've used a new system of serving only walk-ins for the emergency heat program.
The program's manager, Robin Avant, says the new system has actually allowed them to serve more customers who walk-in rather than scheduling appointments.
"We actually have a 60 percent rate of no shows with appointments. So, we've decided to do walk-ins. Last year we were able to take on a daily basis about 150 people. This year we took 400 people through the door this morning," Avant explained.
"I was able to get the assistance that I came up here for. It took a little time, but I got the help that I needed," Gray said thanking CAA.
Avant says CAA has received enough federal funds to help everyone.
It's expected the agency will give out about $3 million in aid between now and when the program ends March 31, 2010.
