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Weatherization Services Improve Safety & Comfort
Spotlight On Lycoming-Clinton Counties Commission for Community Action (STEP), Inc.
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
Two stories of reduced utility costs and safer homes created through Community Action & WAP.
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Ms. Kissell's Mobile Home Walls - Before And After
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Ms. Kissell's StoryMs. Kissell applied to the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) for assistance in reducing her utility costs. Ms. Kissell lives in a mobile home and prior to weatherization the entire "belly" (bottom) board was open, as well as multiple exterior walls.
Community Action Responded Utilizing WAP funds, STEP insulated the mobile home's bottom base-board, installed sheetrock and repaired the home's ductwork. Health and safety funds were used to install smoke and carbon dioxide alarms and vent the dryer outdoors.
The Results Of These Measures
These repairs resulted in a 44% reduction in air infiltration and an estimated annual savings of 150-220 gallons of LP gas. Ms. Kissell's mobile home is now a safer and more energy efficient place to live comfortably for years to come.
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Ms. Ungard's Utility Equipment Before WAP
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Ms. Ungard's Story
Ms. Ungard applied to WAP to increase comfort and reduce energy costs of her single family home. During the energy audit, the auditor identified a 70% efficient gas boiler with high carbon monoxide and a leaking gas water heater. Both conditions that could result in serious health and safety issues for Ms. Ungard.
Community Action Responded
Through WAP, STEP replaced the boiler with a condensing gas boiler and domestic coil, and removed the water heater. Water conservation and air sealing measures were installed. In addition, health and safety measures including smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, venting the dryer outdoors, and removing unvented space heaters were completed.
Results Of These Measures
These measures resulted in a 41% reduction in air infiltration and an estimated annual savings of 105-150 CCF of natural gas for Ms. Ungard. Thanks to STEP and the WAP program, Ms. Ungard now lives in a safer and more energy efficient home.
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Ms. Ungard's Utilities After WAP
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STEP Weatherization ProgramSTEP’s Housing Options Pathway includes the Utilities Assistance Program, Weatherization, and Housing and Building Initiatives. Individuals and families secure and maintain safe, affordable, and energy-efficient housing. Community Action Agencies across PA assist residents in applying and completing the Weatherization Assistance, or similar programs, for their homes. Find your local Agency on CAAP's website.
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Outdoor Signs Help Keep Lebanon Residents In Their Homes
Spotlight On Lebanon County Community Action (LCCA)
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Five examples of how Community Action & ERAP are helping families face several Covid-19 burdens.
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Large Outdoor Signage To Reach Residents
lebanoncountyrenthelp.com
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Lebanon County Community Action (LCCA) is using billboards and largely displaying "lebanoncountyrenthelp.com" above their entry way to reach residents struggling to pay rent and utilities in their county.
"We did this not because people needed to know the website, but because people needed to know where they could find the same help as on the website - if they didn’t have digital access," explains Sandy Long, Director of Social Services.
The following five short stories reflect the many ways this pandemic has affected this rural community, and how Community Action and the ERAP program are able to respond.
5 Emergency Rental Assistance Stories
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Story #1 Carmen and Jose
Carmen’s husband, Jose, lost his job during the quarantine. He was then discovered to have Stage IV colon cancer. His prognosis is bleak and his unemployment compensation is exhausted. Because of the critical nature of Jose's health, Carmen must stay home to care for him.
Community Action Responded
LCCA was able to secure ERAP to assist with three months’ rent and catch up the electric bill. Her husband’s SSDI disability inusurance starts in July and Carmen says that they will be able to pay going forward.
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Story #2 Mary and Rob
Mary and Rob are a couple with four young children. When there was no daycare available and the kids had Zoom school, the couple agreed to have Rob quit his job to stay home with the kids. Although Mary made less income than Rob, she had the better health benefits for the family.
Community Action Responded
LCCA & ERAP were able to assist with a few months of rent and utility arrears. Rob was actually able to get his job back and the family’s situation is stable.
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Story #3 Akara
Akara worked in a spa and during the pandemic and like many in her line of work, spas closed and she was unable to work. As single mom with three kids, she used her savings and the government stimulus checks to keep up as much as she could - still continuing to grow rent in arrears. Even after the spa re-opened, Akara and her children got COVID-19 and she couldn’t go back to work immediately. Meanwhile, her lease was up and her rent increased from $550 per month to $1000 per month.
Community Action Responded
Akira will not be able to pay $1000 per month going forward, but LCCA is using the ERAP to help stabilize the household. The rental agent agreed to work with Akara and the ERAP, since there is no way that she will be able to find a new place in 45 days, especially with the housing market so tight in her area. The Agency's ERAP staff is helping Akara apply for subsidized housing and search for affordable unsubsidized housing.
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Story #4 Deanna
Deanna’s husband and brother died within three weeks of each other last year. Deanna states that they died of COVID-19. After they passed, Deanna suddenly had no income. She got a job delivering a weekly paper, but quickly faced the reality that it doesn’t pay enough. Deanna is diabetic and is being followed closely by her medical provider. The hospital social worker, who is trying to help Deanna access benefits, referred her to ERAP at LCCA when she learned what was happening.
Community Action Responded
The landlord had been overlooking missing and incomplete monthly payments, but explained he didn’t know how much longer he could do that. Through LCCA, ERAP made Deanna whole with the landlord, providing eight months of rent and utilities. Lebanon Community Action will continue to assist while Deanna awaits her benefits.
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Story #5 John and Elaine
John, age 72, was still working full time as a mechanic when he and his wife, Elaine, age 73, both contracted COVID-19. John recovered quickly, but Elaine, who has some underlying health conditions, was in the hospital for four months. John took FMLA to care for her. When it was time to renew the FMLA, his employer let him go.
Community Action Responded
DHS's Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) is a managed care program that provides a comprehensive, all-inclusive package of medical and supportive services. The Albright LIFE - Lebanon location is helping Elaine and the center referred the fragile couple to the Lebanon Community Action Agency. The Agency applied for, and is using, the ERAP program to pay an overdue electric bill and provide a little help with the couple's monthly rent.
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Digital Challenges Face LCCA Offering The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Soledad Arroyo-Silva, Supervisor of LCCA's ERAP Program shares the challenges with getting complete applications from consumers, and why Community Action is still doing applications both in person at the Agency and over the phone.
“The pandemic forced people into a virtual platform and they were not equipped for it. Social interaction was their resource and their capital. There is still a significant digital divide, not just with access to devices, but with the skills to use the devices,” says Soledad Arroyo-Silva (pictured below).
- LCCA's ERAP program, at the end of May 2021, had 180 applicants with an 88% acceptance rate.
- After a little less than two months, LCCA also spent about $110,000 on rent and $60,000 on utilities for eligible applicants.
- The DHS PA ERAP March and April report was just released.
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LCCA's ERAP Program In Action
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Submit Your Stories
We would love to honor your agency's successes, partner- ships, clients and accomplishments in our monthly newsletter. Your stories will also be highlighted on the CAAP website and in social media posts that help celebrate your successes, praise your partnerships, and educate the public on how individuals and families benefit from Community Action.
Everyone has a story to tell...let us tell yours.
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