Kentucky - If the latest Farmers' Almanac is right, we are in for one chilly visit from Old Man Winter in 2009-2010. The historic guide is predicting very cold and snowy weather for our region and most of the country. We could possibly even see a blizzard or two, it says.  Bad winters are just an inconvenience if you have a warm place to call home. If you don't, they can be downright threatening. Luckily there is something that those living without adequate heat this winter can do, and it's as simple as filling out an application with your local Community Action agency.

 
Millions of dollars were set aside earlier this year by the federal government for home weatherization programs administered by Community Action agencies across the nation, with Kentucky receiving up to $70 million over the next three years to help as many as 9,000 qualified families secure their homes for winter. Homes that qualify could receive up to $6,500 for free repairs or upgrades like new windows, more efficient heating and cooling systems and added insulation that would be provided by trained local workers.
 
The test of whether or not your home qualifies for weatherization aid is based first and foremost on income. Every household in the program must have an income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or an annual income of less than $21,660 for a one-person household, $29,140 for a two-person household, $36,620 for a three-person household and $44,100 for a four-person household. Households with more members can also qualify.
 
After a household qualifies for the program, the administrators prioritize work orders by need. Households getting first priority include homes with children six years of age or younger or households with children that could be at risk of being removed from the home due to poor living conditions. Households with elderly or disabled occupants or households with high heating costs are also given top priority.
 
Weatherization does not just help citizens with their heating costs.It provides year-round savings by keeping homes warm in the winter and cool in the spring and summer. Average first-year savings based on information from the Community Action Kentucky web site for 2008 is around $413, while the estimated long-term average energy benefit (in 2006 dollars) is $5,274, according to CAK.
 
If your home is approved for weatherization aid, an inspector will come out and do an energy audit to see what needs to be done. The work will be assigned to a work crew, and then reinspected once the job is completed.
 
This is a good program, and no one with high energy bills who qualifies should pass up the opportunity for this assistance.
 
I urge anyone in Muhlenberg, Christian or Hopkins counties who meets the income guidelines and needs assistance to contact Pennyrile Allied Community Services today at 270-886-6341 or call Community Action Kentucky at 1-800-456-3452 for more information. You can also learn more about the program on the CAK web site at www.kaca.org

Have a great week.
Rep. Brent Yonts
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