Weatherization Program aids Nevadans

This winter will be the first in several years that 74-year-old Levi Haynes will have heat flowing through the air ducts of his North Las Vegas home, thanks to the Nevada Housing Division's Weatherization Assistance Program.

"For five years, I didn't have an air conditioner or heater that worked, and I had been using a fan and a portable heater. I went and priced a new air conditioner and heater several times, but I was unable to pay that kind of money," said Haynes, who in 1994 retired as a cook at the Nevada Test Site. For 16 years, the father of 11 has lived in the single-story house, which was built in the 1960s.

"A friend told me about the Weatherization program. Someone came and took a look at my house last summer, and then they put in a new heater and air conditioner on top of my roof, and installed new doors and solar screens in the front and back. They did a lot of weatherstripping, checked the attic, changed my range hood, put in a new (efficient) shower head. ... It all cut down on my electric bill, and now I save on water, too," he said.

"I have a bad back and I'm just not able to do everything that I want to or like I used to at my house. They did so much for me, and I am very grateful and appreciate everything."

Haynes is one of more than a thousand Nevada residents who will benefit from the statewide program in 2003.

"The focus of the Weatherization program is to reduce demand and consumption. This program looks at the demand side of the economic equation. Unlike other programs that direct grants, the Weatherization program's main focus is to reduce the overall consumption of energy in the state," said Chas Horsey, administrator of the Housing Division.

Gov. Kenny Guinn proclaimed Oct. 30 as Weatherization Day.

Assistance is provided free of charge to homeowners or renters who reside in single-family homes, multifamily buildings or mobile homes, and have an annual gross income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. Annual income limits are: $13,470 for a one-person household; $18,180 for two people; $22,890 for three people; $27,600 for four people; $32,310 for five people; and $37,020 for six people.

"This program gives a permanent fix. They are tangible weatherization improvements to the home and that's why this program has been successful. The savings are on a more permanent basis for many years," said Art Thurner, chief of federal programs for the housing division.

"The main reason why this program has been successful is because we've had a very good working relationship with our four subgrantees, who are in charge of inspecting homes and making repairs. The subgrantees, which are basically nonprofit groups, get out directly to the community and they serve the folks who need the program the most."

HELP of Southern Nevada serves all of Clark County except homes located within the city of Henderson, which is served by the Henderson Neighborhood Services Department. Other Nevada counties are served by Community Services Agency of Washoe County and Rural Nevada Development Corp.

About 70 percent of participants during the last fiscal year were from Southern Nevada.

"Basically, the subgrantees look at the applications. ... Then they go out and make an assessment on the house, and they decide which improvements should be made to help that particular structure," Thurner said, pointing out that the program's goal is about $2,500 of improvements per home.

Since the program was founded in 1977, more than 17,000 units have been weatherized. It is funded primarily by the Department of Energy with contributions from the Housing Division's Low Income Housing Trust Fund and the fund for Energy Assistance Conservation.

For more information, contact HELP of Southern Nevada at 369-4357 or Henderson Neighborhood Services at 566-1473. Or, visit www.nvhousing.state.nv.us.

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