This may be the wrong forum but I have a problem with energy

[jwirr]

assistance. My brother lives in Iowa and both he and his wife are disabled. They have been told that they will get the stimulus energy assistance package this year to help fix things in their house. The home is what most of you would call unfit to live in but they will not move out.

The government program will not do the roof or the windows and a lot of other things that the house needs - they will probably buy them new appliances for the inside of the house.

Now the problem is that he has heard that if you do anything to fix the rest of the house the government will want the money back. Does anyone know if this is true? How long does he have to wait before he can fix the other vital issues?

The family wants to go down there and do some work on the place - the wiring is in bad condition and the roof and siding need to be replaced. Yet we cannot do this if the above is true.

It seems crazy to me that we could not fix a fire hazard, a leaking roof and reside the house before the whole damn thing falls in.

[frazzled]

1. You're talking about the Weatherization Assistance Program?

That is administered through programs in individual states. The Iowa web site is here:

http://www.weatherization.iowa.gov/

From a link on that page:

Weatherization services differ with each home depending on how it was built and its condition.

Some common weatherization services include:

Adding insulation to the attic, walls and/or floors. If insulation is added, holes may be drilled in the siding and vents may be added to the roof. These measures will reduce the amount of heat being lost through the walls, ceiling and floors.
The combustion appliances (heating systems, water heaters, stoves) will be safety-checked to ensure that they are not putting off too much carbon monoxide. If they are, depending upon your circumstance, the program may replace your appliance. This will ensure that health and safety problems are not created by tightening up your house.
Your heating system may be cleaned and tuned, repaired, retrofitted, and in some cases, replaced.
Energy efficient lighting will be installed.

What doesn't the program cover? Return to Top

Rarely do we replace windows and doors
We will not paint your house
General fix-up work on your home
Yard work
House cleaning
Roof replacements

[DJ13]

2. I would think roofs, windows, and doors would be the first things to fix

Typical half-assed government plan.

[frazzled]

3. It's a weatherization program, not a home improvement program

A roof replacement is $6,000 and up (way up). Windows and doors are expensive, too.

Look, they'll put insulation and venting in under the roof. They'll caulk around the doors and windows.

The point of this is to save energy. There wouldn't be enough money in all of China to have the government replace the roofs of everyone who needs one and can't afford it. Maybe there are some special homeowners programs in Iowa that could help with that. But that's not part of the weatherization assistance passed in the stimulus.

[DJ13]

4. The point of this is to save energy.

Right, and those homes most in need of weatherizing likely have the old single pane glass, and caulking them wont do much about lost heat.

I understand that programs geared towards the lower class dont hold the importance of throwing a few trillion at the banks, but if were truly trying to improve both our energy usage and reduce the emissions created by the energy companies they need to stop doing the least possible for those who most need the help.

[frazzled]

6. I'm sorry, I thought you were looking for information

I took the time to look it up for you. I don't even live in Iowa. I misunderstood that you just wanted to grouse about it.

Look, this was mainly a jobs program: to train people and give them jobs weatherizing houses during the downturn in the economy. It wasn't a program about replacing roofs and windows. It would be nice if it could. But the stimulus would have had to be a lot bigger to do that.

Tip: When we lived in old houses with single-pane windows--in Minnesota, where it gets really cold--we used to buy 3M window kits for the worst spots during the winter. They're easy to put up and quite inexpensive. That would be a good winter solution for your relative.

Thanks for your appreciation for my taking time out on a Friday night to look up the regulations for you. (Note to self: leave the googling to others in the future. They have computers, and it's easy to do for yourself.)

[DJ13]

7. Im not the OP

Im sure you helped.

[jwirr]

10. Thank you. I found a contact address on there and have already

sent the question in. Hopefully I will get the answer to the question soon. As brothers and sisters we have neglected this family too long. It was my young grandson who asked if we could do a service event such as he has done at our church to help one of our own. Now hopefully the state will not stand in the way.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. Their locai Congresspeople are a good first stop

Even Republicans like to give good constituent service. It often translates into votes. They often know where everything is -- I have only ever encountered even mediocre (but polite) service just once, from Rick Santorum's staff.

Also, Habitat For Humanity might have repair and "upgrade" program, or could tell you if there are any similar efforts around. It's worth a phone call.

Be sure to them good luck for me!

--d!

[jwirr]

8. Thank all of you - especially for the site. I can go in and ask them

about the issue I am dealing with. Anything they can do to that house is a help. We went down there to visit them this year and were shocked at the condition of the house. As his sisters we are asking our families to help with some of the vital things needed but now he thinks that the weatherization program has some clause prohibiting this. Hopefully I will find out that it is not so.

[OKIsItJustMe]

9. “… he has heard that if you do anything to fix the rest of the house the government …”

This sounds dubious to me at best.

Tell your brother to pursue the grants, and ask the people he deals with about the truth.

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/ia/rbcs_RE-EE_Section_9006.html

[jwirr]

11. The couple both suffer from bi-polar and often get things in their

heads. I suspected right away that it was their fear talking instead of reality. I have contacted the above link for the truth.