COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS
Weatherization Assistance Program
WEATHERIZATION WORKS
As the cold weather approaches, most families across the country are turning up their thermostats to combat dropping temperatures. For low-income families, however, cranking up the heat is not always an option. These families pay 16% or more of their annual income for energy compared with only 5% for other non low-income families. Unable to pay gaping balances or hefty reconnection fees, some families are considering how they will survive this winter without heat. The Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) may be able to help. This program provides permanent solutions to reduce the energy burden on low-income families by installing cost-effective, energy efficiency materials and services. Since the inception of the program in 1976, more than 5.6 million homes have been weatherized across the nation. Weatherization technicians use computerized energy audits and advanced diagnostic technologies to determine the most cost-effective measures for each home. Serving as the nation’s core program for delivering energy efficiency services to low-income households, the DOE Weatherization Assistance Program prioritizes the elderly, persons with disabilities, and households with children. The Weatherization Program serves every county in the nation through its partnerships with local agencies. The Council of the Southern Mountains is the local agency serving the citizens of McDowell County.
COUNCIL OF THE SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS
Weatherization Program
CSM is responsible for weatherizing 49 homes this program year, which ends March 31, 2007. Through October 31st we have weatherized 26 homes. We have attained 53.5% of our goal and spent 52.3% of our total grant. Sixteen of the completions have been site built homes and 10 have been mobile homes. The State’s guideline for cost per completion is $4,000.00 per unit and currently we are at $3,576.00 per unit. We have assisted a total of 57 people within the 26 homes through October, 2006. Of that total 23% were elderly, 37% were people with disabilities, 28% were children under 19 and 31% were between the ages of 21-55.
CSM currently has 74 applications on file with 37 of these under 75% of the poverty level; 16 are in the 75-100% poverty level; 14 are in the 101-125% poverty level; 6 are in the 126-150% poverty level; 1 is over 150% of poverty level.
After the agency’s reorganization in 2006, administrative duties have been distributed among several Council employees. Latonia Foster is responsible for updating applications, scheduling P.A.C meetings and updating the flow chart which is used in the selection process of jobs to be completed. Heather Eldridge is responsible for entering data in WVFACS and providing information regarding applications on file for monthly reporting. Brenda Melnik, Director of Finance, is responsible for completion of job booklets, summary pages per client, monthly progress reports, American Electric Power invoicing, STAT report, and the funding requests. Randal Johnson, Executive Director, is performing field inspections corrective action plans, safety training and crisis assistance.
If you need services from our Weatherization Program, you may call the warehouse at (304) 436-6453 or the Main Office at (304) 862-3144 and speak to Randal Johnson.
The Energy Crisis Intervention Program was initiated on November 1, 2006 to assist low-income individuals with no heat. This program allows for staff to respond in emergency situations so no person or family will perish because of lack of services. CSM will strive to perfect this program and ensure the best possible crisis intervention.
Weatherization Staff:
Project Director-Randy Johnson
Technician-Lawrence Carper
Technician-Gregory Rushing
Technician-Nick Melnik