FUNDING FOR LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) IN COOK COUNTY ENDS THREE MONTHS EARLY

Residents Delinquent in Payments to Utilities Will Have No Utility Bill Assistance Available This Spring and May See Service Interruptions Beginning April 1st 

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will be unavailable this spring to help Cook County residents who are behind in their payments to Illinois’ public utilities.  Over the last five years, federal funds for the program has declined, as Cook County residents’ need has increased.  Beginning April 1st, those residents could face interruption of their gas and/or electric service.

LIHEAP, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the State of Illinois, is designed to assist eligible low income households pay for winter energy services.  In Cook County, the program is administered by the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County (CEDA), who has already helped more than 144,000 low-income households with their energy needs since September.   Last year 19,000 households used the LIHEAP program between March 16th and May 31st.  A 37% decline in available federal funding over the last five years and increases in need, have resulted in a funding shortfall this program year and will mean that no reconnection assistance will be available this spring.

This year, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) informed CEDA that funding for LIHEAP in Cook County has been exhausted and residents will not receive further financial assistance from the program during this Program Year.  Each year, LIHEAP ends on May 31st or until funding is exhausted, whichever occurs first.

The lack of funds will have a significant impact on Cook County residents who depend on LIHEAP to remove the threat of utility disconnection in the spring. While state law prohibits a gas or electric public utility from terminating service between December 1st and March 31st (except under certain conditions), the winter moratorium is ending.  On April 1st, public utilities may begin interrupting service to customers who are behind in their payments.     

Cook County residents with delinquent accounts should immediately contact the customer service department of their gas or electric public utility to request a payment plan or deferred billing plan  (contact information can be found on the monthly bills).  In addition, the customer service telephone numbers for Illinois’ major public utilities are: 

• Com Ed Care:    (888) 806-2273

• Peoples’ Gas Co:    (866) 556-6001

• North Shore Gas Co.: (847) 336-9300

• NICOR:   (888) 642-6748 

For more information, please visit www.cedaorg.net or call CEDA at (800) 571-2332. 

LIHEAP-WX Intake Sites Wanted

CEDA is looking for non-profits and townships to be intake sites for Cook County Energy Services and Weatherization applicants. We have an RFP out until April 28, and a pre-RFP meeting Thursday, April 10, 10 AM. Please go to our Purchasing page at http://www.cedaorg.net/www2/Purchasing.html for further information.

I-Team: Heating bills skyrocket during extreme winter

Apply Now for Home Energy Assistance or Home Weatherization!

Now Accepting Applications for Home Weatherization

CEDA Weatherization is a year-round program using state-of-the-art technology to make homes more energy-efficient for qualifying low-income clients in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Weatherization provides safety and health equipment, repairs or replaces heating systems, seals air bypasses and other drafty areas, increases attic, wall, basement, and crawl space insulation. These measures will save energy for homeowners and keep homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

Call (800) 571-CEDA (2332) or visit www.cedaorg.net today for more information on how to apply.

CEDA Demonstrates Energy Saving Retrofit Technologies at Chicago Residence

Tuesday, October 30, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Marsha A. Belcher

312.260.9854 office
312.523.5657 mobile

CEDA Demonstrates Energy Saving Retrofit Technologies at Chicago Residence
Weatherization Measures Demonstrated at South Side Residence on National Weatherization Day

CHICAGO - October 30, 2012. To recognize National Weatherization Day, representatives from Illinois’ community action network will join CEDA President/CEO Patricia Doherty-Wildner and Interim CEDA Weatherization Director Ethel Brown in viewing retrofits made to a single family home on the city’s south side. The updates made through the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program, will improve the energy efficiency of the property and increase energy savings. Attendees will include: Larry Dawson, deputy director and John Knox, assistant deputy director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Energy Assistance; Kenneth Gilkes, from the office of Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.  2^nd District; State Rep. Bob Rita, 28^th District; and Diane Turner, representing Carrie Austin, Alderwoman for the 34th Ward.
 

“Home Weatherization works for our communities.  This program provides permanent solutions to reduce the energy burden on families by installing cost-effective, energy-efficient materials and services,” said Pat Doherty-Wildner, CEDA president and CEO.
 

Featured in the demonstration will be a new ventilation standard, ASHRAE 62.2, loose fill, and dense pack cellulose insulation in the attic and walls. The 62.2 standard looks at the home’s capacity to remove contaminants (including moisture) from the bath and kitchen.  Bathrooms and kitchens are recognized as sources of poor indoor air quality.
 

“DCEO is a proud partner in this effort to help Illinois families live safely in their homes,” Dawson said. “Through Illinois’ home weatherization program, we’ve been able to help tens of thousands of homeowners reduce their long-term energy consumption and realize significant savings in their energy bills, while improving their overall quality of life.”
 

Annually, CEDA, other community action agencies and energy conservation groups nationwide observe the month of October as Weatherization Month. Weatherization Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements made to help improve the lives of thousands of families.

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CEDA is the nation’s largest Community Action Agency serving more than 240,000 individuals annually and operating over 30 programs throughout Cook County.

CEDA Joins the Nation to Recognize National Weatherization Month

Pat Doherty-Wildner
President/CEO

October is a good time to ready our homes for the winter ahead.  It is important to revisit or develop a home fire escape plan that prepares your family to think fast and get out quickly when the smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector sounds. It’s time to replaces all batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

October is also National Weatherization Month.  CEDA wants you to begin readying your homes for the winter.  For those Cook County residents eligible for CEDA Home Weatherization, it’s time to visit one of our CEDA centers to apply.

Effective September 2012, the nationwide weatherization focus is primarily on health and safety.  The U.S. Department of Energy has announced adjustments to the Home Weatherization Program to ensure strong health and safety measures for the homes we weatherize.
It’s all about good venting.  CEDA’s Home Weatherization assessors will evaluate the existing ventilation in the home. CEDA’s Home Weatherization assessors will evaluate if:

• naturally drafting combustion equipment like furnaces and hot water heaters are properly vented,
• dryers are properly vented,
• gas appliances and gas lines have leaks, and if
• CO detectors and smoke detectors are properly installed.

Most houses waste energy and different types of houses and apartments have different energy issues. CEDA assessors will still measure energy loss and make sure that your home is tight and safe.

Listen carefully to the results of the energy audit for your home as the assessment measures and priorities are different from past years.

Whether your home is weatherized by CEDA, a professional energy efficiency contractor or by you, a DIY, think health, think safety and think energy savings!

FOR MORE INFORMATION

http://www.cedaorg.net/www2/EnergyEfficiency.html

 800/571-CEDA

CEDA Highlights Energy Saving Retrofit Technologies for Multi-family Residence

Weatherization Measures Demonstrated at West Side Apartment Building

 

CHICAGO - October 28, 2011. On the Friday before National Weatherization Day, representatives from CEDA Weatherization joined officials at a 22-unit apartment building on Chicago’s West Side to highlight services provided through the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP).

“Over one-half of the Austin community housing stock was built before 1950,” said Robert L. Wharton, president/CEO CEDA.  “It’s essential that these apartments and homes are weatherized to bring down energy costs for the families.”

CEDA hosted a local press conference at 10:00 a.m. at 17 S. Central in Chicago, Friday, October 28, 2011 to announce new measures undertaken to enhance energy conservation and efficiency in this multi-family residence. Following the press conference, participants took a guided tour of the property, getting a first-hand look at completed weatherization measures and state-of-the-art weatherization technology used to make homes more energy efficient.

“We know that in these tough economic times our money is being stretched in every direction… so this is a great benefit for this community to have received this weatherization program offered by CEDA today,” Alderman Deborah Graham, 29th ward.

Property Managers, Bishop Joseph and Jeannie Jones, moved back into the Austin community to renovate the property several years ago with the support of their church, Pleasant Ridge MB Church, which sits across the street.

The couple came to CEDA in 2010 for help with energy efficiency measures, which were completed on all units, including attic insulations and furnace repairs.

“We open our doors to the homeless. We open our doors to anybody in distress,” said Jeannie Jones. “We see the difference of what this weatherization did for this community.”

Building resident Charmin Edwards, who moved to the property after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina, expressed her contentment with the work done in her unit. “It’s been fabulous what CEDA has done,” she said.

Annually, CEDA, other community action agencies and energy conservation groups nationwide observe the month of October as Weatherization Month, celebrating the achievements made to help improve the lives of thousands of families.

History of Community Action

Where does the middle-class go for emergency assistance?

The Need:
Too many Illinois middle‐class families are no longer able to keep up with the mounting costs of running their households. A generation ago, a typical American middle-class family lived on the income of a single breadwinner. In recent years it has taken two working spouses to live the modern middle-class dream. Today, many middle‐class families economic status has suddenly
changed. Due to substantial loss of income, they are unable to survive the skyrocketing cost of energy, housing, health care and college while saving for retirement and managing growing debt.

Keeping It Simple‐Keeping It Private:
CEDA will meet with organizations, private businesses and others to gage support for a new broader based fuel fund. Requests for assistance can be done online. Intake, distribution of funds, Q&A, phone inquiries, presentations, and reports will be serviced through the Administrator (CEDA). CEDA will also market and advertise the fund.

Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Incorporated is a 501(c)3 not‐for‐profit organization. Your donation is tax‐deductible to the extent allowed by the law.

Contribution:

Contributing to the Neighbor‐to‐Neighbor Network Fuel Fund
It’s as easy as 1‐2‐3.

1. CEDA will provide the opportunity for foundations, philanthropists, corporate matching programs and neighbors to contribute to their Network on behalf of middle‐class
   families with energy insecurity.
2. Donors may contribute online at www.cedaorg.net with a credit card or mail checks directly to Neighbor‐to‐Neighbor Network Fund c/o CEDA. 208 S. LaSalle, Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60604‐1001
3. Donors may specify the neighborhood to which their contribution will be applied.