COLUMBUS — Ohio officials are scaling back a federally funded program that helps keep elderly and medically needy residents cool during hot summer days and nights.

Funding for the state’s Home Energy Assistance Program has been slashed by $7 million this year, leaving just $2.5 million for heat relief, said Ohio Department of Development spokeswoman Melissa Vince.

The department spent $3 million more than anticipated during a harsh winter, when demand was higher than usual due to the struggling economy. That money otherwise would have been available for the summer cooling program.

The cuts have delayed the program’s start until July 1, a month later than normal, and it will serve less than half of the people it assisted last year. Financial assistance will be limited to $100 per household. And none of its recipients will receive a free air conditioner.

The cutbacks will expose more people to the risk of heat stroke, breathing problems and other ailments, said Colette Harrell, chief director the Breathing Association, one of two Franklin County agencies that handle HEAP funds.

“We have less money for people and we won’t be buying new air conditioners to give to them,” Harrell said.

About 56,000 Ohioans received $175 per household in 2007 to help cover the cost of cooling their homes. Of those, about 22,000 received air conditioners. The slimmer budget will only cover about 25,000 people this summer.

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, Harrell said.

Harrell estimated that, along with HEAP distributions from the Columbus/Franklin County Community Action Agency, more than 6,000 people in the county received HEAP aid last summer.

To receive HEAP funds, applicants must be at least 60 years old, or they must have a prescription showing a medical need for heat relief, Harrell said. The Breathing Association begins accepting applications on June 17.

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