Ninth District Opportunity Inc. announces dates of the 2009 Cooling Program.

The Low Income Cooling Assistance Program opens Aug. 3 to 65 years and older and homebound income-eligible households. Phone calls to schedule appointments will only be accepted Aug. 3 on a first-come, first-served basis. The Georgia Department of Human Resources will help pay cooling costs by checks issued to the home energy supplier on behalf of eligible households. Eligibility for the program is based on the income of everyone living in the home. All eligible households must be responsible for their home power bill. No funds will be available this year for the general population younger than 65.

When applying for assistance, people will be required to present verification of age, verification of all household income received within the past 30 days, verification of Social Security numbers for everyone in the home and the most recent home power bill.

All interested applicants are asked to contact Ninth District Opportunity Inc. beginning at 9 a.m at 770-534-8826 on Aug. 3 only. No walk-ins, please. Additional information will be made available online at www.ndo.org.