What is Weatherization?
The
Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is the
nation’s core program for delivering energy efficiency services to
low-income households. The
program’s goal is to reduce energy costs to low-income persons by
improving the energy efficiency of their homes while ensuring their
health and safety.
Nationwide, weatherization benefits low-income households and
communities and generates an average energy cost savings of $300 per
home each year.
Professionally trained weatherization crews perform on-site home energy
audits using state of the art equipment to identify outside drafts,
inspect heating and cooling systems and perform health and safety
checks. Weatherization
crews install materials to make homes more energy efficient and make
minor repairs to ensure safety.
Once installed, the energy saving measures help to reduce heating
and cooling costs for years to come.
Do I qualify for services?
Do I have to own my own home to qualify for services?
You
do not have to own your own home to qualify.
You may qualify whether you own or rent, live in a single family
home or in a mobile home.
Do I have to be a certain age or meet an income guideline to qualify?
While preference is given to persons over 60, persons with disabilities
and in some cases, children; if you receive Supplemental Security Income
(SSI) you are automatically eligible.
You may also be eligible for assistance if your income meets the
following federally established income guidelines:
Family Size
Maximum gross annual income
|
1 |
$21,660.00 |
|
2 |
$29,140.00 |
|
3 |
$36,620.00 |
|
4 |
$44,100.00 |
|
5 |
$51,580.00 |
|
6 |
$59,060.00 |
|
7 |
$66,540.00 |
|
8 |
$74,020.00 |
Put Weatherization to work
How do I apply?
To apply for services or to get additional information on the
Weatherization Assistance Program contact:
Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council, Inc.
Weatherization Assistance Program
Post Office Box 4069
Fort Smith, Arkansas 72914
Located at 4831 Armour Avenue
479-785-2303
Extension 110 or 111
Weatherization Assistance Program
What it is:
A local-state-federal program, it was initiated by the federal
Department of Energy (DOE)
in 1976 in response to the oil shortage, to help states and communities
help those of low income have more energy-efficient, safe and healthy
homes. It is the nation’s
largest residential energy-efficiency program.
How it operates:
In Arkansas, it is administered by the Department of Health and Human
Services’ Office of Community Services (OCS) and operated, primarily, by
the private, nonprofit community action agencies.
(Weatherization is one of scores of programs the community action
agencies operate to help people of low income gain the basic necessities
and strengthen economic self-sufficiency.)
What it does:
It does computerized energy audits and uses advanced diagnostic
technology to determine the energy conservation needs of a home,
providing, among other improvements, weather stripping of doors and
windows: caulking and sealing of cracks and holes: installation of
compact fluorescent light bulbs, and smoke and carbon monoxide
detectors. Each home
differs in the energy conservation needs and recommendations.
Who it is for:
The work is done free of charge for those who meet income guidelines.
How is it funded:
DOE is the primary funder, for the nation.
In Arkansas, OCS last year used $2 million it received from DOE
and supplemented it with $1.8 million of the funds it gets from the
federal Office of Community Services for the Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP), improving 1,168 homes.
The program, since it was begun, has injected more than $91 million into
communities throughout the state to improve 61,000 homes, affecting the
lives of hundreds of thousands of people, many of them elderly, disabled
and children. (The program
nationally, has improved the homes of 5.3 million individuals and
families.)
The benefits:
The program helps individuals and families have better lives and gain
strength in their effort to advance.
It makes their homes more secure from weather, which helps them
conserve energy and have more income for other basic necessities,
including food, medicine, clothing, transportation – DOE estimates it
reduces heating bills by 31 percent.
It also contributes to the betterment of communities by creating
jobs, generating the purchase of goods and services, strengthening
housing stock, reducing homelessness, stabilizing neighborhoods and
eliminating carbon emissions and the risk of fires.
Issues:
There is limited federal funding for the work – although the program
improves more than 1,000 homes a year in the state, the homes of an
estimated 178,000 people are eligible for the service, according to
poverty figures.
The program nationally received $225 million in funds in the last year.
Proposals for the next year range from $223 million to $237
million. According to a
funding rule, if it is funded for more than $233 million next year the
11 states in the South would receive a greater share of the national
funds, enabling them to serve many more in need.
Definition of household income:
Refers to total cash receipts before taxes from all sources.
Money, wages and salaries before any deductions; regular payments
from Social Security, retirement from all sources, unemployment
compensation, strike benefits from union funds, worker’s compensation,
veteran’s payments, training stipends, alimony and military family
allotments; private pensions, government employee pensions (including
military retirement pay), and regular insurance or annuity payment;
dividends, interest, net rental income, net royalties, periodic receipts
from estates or trusts, and net gambling or lottery winnings.
Proof of income includes copies of payroll checks or check stubs,
statement from employer, statement from Employment Office, statement
from Social Security Administration or a statement from anyone who is
assisting with monthly household bills or other support.
If unemployed, a statement from Employment Office with benefit
amount or showing you do not have an open claim.
Renters:
The landlord must complete a Lessor Agreement.
Applicant must complete a Tenant’s rights form.
These forms are available from the agency.
WEATHERIZATION IS MAKING ARKANSAS A BETTER HOME FOR ALL