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Department of Community Development 

 Low-Income Wealherlzation Programs 



March 18. 1993 



Every year, over 4000 homes of low-income persons are weatherized through the 

 Department of Community Development's (DCD) programs. DCD's low-Income 

 weatherization programs have a number of goals: 



• To prevent homclcssness 



• To provide a secure and safe environment to low-iocome persons 



• To preserve housing stock 



• To reduce energy usage (otir most important goal). 



Homes are made more energy-efficient by installing insulation, caulking, 

 wcatherstripping, tuning furnaces, and by energy conservation education. 



Out BPA funding is specifically targeted for the most cost-effective energy conservation 

 measures. The BPA program is essential to our conservation eO'orts and serves a broader 

 vision and holistic approach to this segment of our society. 



The weatherization work is performed by twenty-sax community-based organizations 

 throughout Washington State. For example, work in the Longview-Kclso area is 

 performed by the Lower Columbia Community Action Council. These agencies 

 represent their community well and are knowledgeable about the needs of low-income 

 persons. In addition to weatherization, these agencies also perform a variety of services 

 for low-income persons, such as energy assistance, Head Start, food programs, and 

 budget counseling. They can competently make rcfeaals for their clients to other helpful 

 programs when necessary. These agencies arc not only well qualified, but are also the 

 most empathetic and understanding entity available to serve low-income persons. 



The Delivery System 



The Boimcville Power Administration has funded one of the Department of Community 

 Development's low-income weatherization programs for over ten years. Armual funding 

 has ranged from SSOO.OOO to over $2 J million, weatherizing from 340 to llOO homes per 

 year. 



Acquiring conservation -especially low-income weatherization - requires consistent, 

 stable, predictable and adequate funding. This may be the most important element of 

 Bonneville Power Administration's acquisition efforts. Northwest utilities have also 

 sounded the plea for stable and adequate funding to maintain stafGng levels for their 

 conservation programs. 



